As Senate health care debate proceeds, nation takes two steps back

As Senate health care debate proceeds, nation takes two steps back: Distinctly Catholic: The effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act has turned into a debacle of democracy, exacerbating the worst features of contemporary politics.

MGB:_A motion to proceed is usually done by unanimous consent. Blame McConnell for making voting on these a thing from his obstructionist days in the minority. As for Trump, he is socki puppet. He does not know procedure well enough to make these statements on his own. Pence might be coaching him, although the other likely source is National Economic Policy Director Gary Cohn, who in a kingdom of the blind has one eye.

Mitch does not want to pass this bill. He wants it considered and gone so they can fund the government. He will have to get by the disaster which is Cohn’s tax cut bill as well, so this is a prequel. He is putting out that skinny repeal will take only 50 votes. Not if someone raises the objection. If he does want to pass the bill, it would be to get it to Conference, but unless the Conference is bipartisan, the bill will eventually die.

Bipartisanship means replacing the unearned income taxes with a higher HI payroll tax or VAT, a public option and no Medicaid cuts, which would likely make Ryan balk. One last thing. Include undocumented workers too. That would be a Catholic bill and it would lower insurance costs too.