When historians look back and wonder what happened to American democracy, they won’t have to look too hard for examples. Here’s a great one from just a few minutes ago, on the floor of the U.S. Senate, where Republicans are running down the clock before casting their votes to kill Obamacare. Senator Patty Murray asks if Democrats will have an opportunity to address the Republican health care bill, which, according to the CBO, will raise insurance premiums by 20% the first year, and result in 16 million Americans losing the health care they currently enjoy. Senator Mike Enzi responds to Murray by saying that her time would be better spent reading the bill… And, with that, it looks like public health care, as we know it today, is going to come to an end in the United States.
WOW: Murray asks Enzi if Democrats will have more time to address #SkinnyRepeal
He says her time would be better spent reading the bill pic.twitter.com/sJ081XY4Gb
— CAP Action (@CAPAction) July 28, 2017
[Am I the only own who’s reminded, when hearing Enzi tell Murray to just sit quietly and read the bill, of Texas gubernatorial candidate Clayton Williams suggesting that victims of rape should just “relax and enjoy it“?]
As for why Enzi won’t yield the floor, here, from Senator Mazie Hirono, who is currently battling cancer, is a pretty good example of what they’re fearing.
If you watch one thing tonight, let it be this — @maziehirono gives a powerful, impassioned speech. Beyond words. pic.twitter.com/YeUqx8AtsU
— Senate Democrats (@SenateDems) July 28, 2017
Oh, it’s also being estimated that, if this bill passes tonight, and is signed into law in its current form, over 20,000 Americans will likely lose their lives. And for what? A tax cut for the super-wealthy, and the momentary high that comes from destroying the legacy of Barack Obama.
update: What a happy, unexpected feeling to wake up this morning and discover that John McCain actually had the courage to join Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski in voting no against Mitch McConnell’s “skinny” repeal bill, much to the surprise of everyone on the floor of the Senate, sending Trumpcare 3.0 down in flames. Here’s video of McCain casting his vote agains the bill that would have taken health coverage from 16 million Americans. You can actually hear the gasps of his fellow Senators, all of whom, obviously, had been led to believe that he would be voting with the other old, white men of the GOP. And that’s what makes the whole thing so much better. Not only did McCain kill the bill, but he obviously led McConnell to think it was going to pass right up until to the last minute. Otherwise, McConnell would never have called for the vote, and had Vice President Pence waiting in things to cast the tie breaking vote… Good work, John McCain… And that goes double for Collins and Murkowski, who stood strong in the face of unbelievable pressure from the right… Today’s a good day. But the fight isn’t over by a long shot.
If you’re just waking up, this was the crucial moment when McCain — entering Senate floor — voted NO on bill, to gasps and quick applause. pic.twitter.com/JK6WEgrNFx
— Dan Diamond (@ddiamond) July 28, 2017
And here’s video from outside the Capitol early this morning, when word came down about Trumpcare’s 51 to 49 defeat.
Good job everyone. Thanks to all who showed up.pic.twitter.com/J7ESa11ill
— Rogue CPI (@RogueCPI) July 28, 2017
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Enzi is still holding the floor.
This report comes from Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut.
“Enzi continues to be the only GOP Senator on the floor and he isn’t talking about anything remotely connected to the bill. This is surreal.”
I can’t remember when I was last this angry.
From McCain’s statement:
“From the beginning, I have believed that Obamacare should be repealed and replaced with a solution that increases competition, lowers costs, and improves care for the American people. The so-called ‘skinny repeal’ amendment the Senate voted on today would not accomplish those goals. While the amendment would have repealed some of Obamacare’s most burdensome regulations, it offered no replacement to actually reform our health care system and deliver affordable, quality health care to our citizens. The Speaker’s statement that the House would be ‘willing’ to go to conference does not ease my concern that this shell of a bill could be taken up and passed at any time.”
https://www.mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=A952CCCA-66D2-4570-9D57-514561BF3D4D
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Ex-Cruz campaign manager: Trump presidency “is effectively over” http://hill.cm/WdPrHdp
There’s no more reason to keep Tump around after this. If he can’t deliver on health care, what good is he to the GOP. His days are numbered.
I am glad McCain decided to go down with some integrity. I disagree with him on a lot of things but most of the time I have found him easy to respect. I even voted for him once in a primary race where George W eventually got the nomination.