Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), a top Republican who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, told Reuters on Monday that the Senate GOP should ignore President Donald Trump’s push to keep working on an Obamacare repeal measure and instead move on to tackling the tax code.
Well, one thing that will always untie the Republicans is the ardent belief that taxes are bad - -for rich people.
Republicans have given so many head-fakes on this issue, all designed to let the world think that ACA repeal is dead in the water. The moment we let our guard down, there will be sudden legislative rush in the Senate.
Wonder if this is truly a white flag on this issue or if the GOPers are buying into trumps new tactic to bleed the ACA however he can from the executive branch.
Could be the realization, among the senior R. Senators, that the implosion is coming and it might be a good idea to have some distance between themselves and PO(tu)S
So now, they’re going to move from one incredibly unpopular policy they tried to push through with magic asterisks and Free Market Pixie Dust to fill in the budget holes and a bunch of facially nonsensical rationales to another incredibly unpopular policy they tried to push through with magic asterisks and Free Market Pixie Dust to fill in the budget holes and a bunch of facially nonsensical rationales.
Why, it’s almost as if they were taking orders from cadre of unelected oligarchs who think they actually control the government and can do whatever they want regardless of popular opinion.
And they may be right. They are clearly banking on the belief that shifting the tax burden downward and blowing up the deficit so they can use deficit panic it to keep Democrats from doing anything if the Russians can’t keep them out of power won’t generate anything like the passion health care deformation did because we spent all our passion and it’s all indirect and it sounds like a thing stupid people think will help them.
But god knows what they’ll do if they don’t get something out of this Congress.
Passing the CSR appropriations I will believe when I see it happen (and doubt Trump will sign it). But it is baby steps that Hatch is admitting they need to do it now that their big lie about having a replace to go with their repeal has coming crashing down around them.
And they may be right. They are clearly banking on the belief that shifting the tax burden downward and blowing up the deficit so they can use deficit panic it to keep Democrats from doing anything if the Russians can’t keep them out of power won’t generate anything like the passion health care deformation did because we spent all our passion and it’s all indirect and it sounds like a thing stupid people think will help them.
Agreed. “Deficit panic” MAY be something stupid people will buy but, in this case at least, if the Dem Party has a strong, clear message as to why it’s a bunch of bunk, we could get some of those people. I remember the last few budgets under Pres. Obama, the Dems held fast and emphasized where the cuts would be directed to (i.e. Head Start, the FAA, etc.) and it worked pretty effectively.
Well, Hatch, we would rather you go home and fade into oblivion, but that is unlikely, too.
Having told Hatch and the rest of the GOP rank and file to kill the repeal efforts, the lobbyists are now telling them to patch up the health insurance markets, take care of the Debt ceiling, and when that’s finished , they will pass a tax cut. Since Mitch the boys tried so hard, the unelected oligarchs will settle for a smaller tax cut,making up the rest next year.
The main chumps who buy into Pete Peterson’s deficit bullshit are the Freedom caucus anyway. A few phone calls and 400 dollar bottles of mislabeled “Montrachet” will take care of Meadows and his crew.
Yes, I can see, if the GOP brings up a new ACA repeal bill, that Hatch will enthusiastically vote against it. I can also see Chris Christie being chosen by American Ballet Theater to play Odile in their new production of “Swan Lake”.
With or without hold a plastic tub of nachos as he pirouettes?
Hatch is rightly recognizing that the clock is ticking…
“Well, that was embarrassing. Might as well move on to the next thing we can’t do.”
Too bad tax reform is WAY more complicated and legislation is only going to get harder. They’re really bad at governance
Someone stated that since the Republicans already used up one vote under reconciliation – the skinny repeal – in this fiscal year, they’d have to wait until after October 1 to do another one, since they can only resort to reconciliation once every fiscal year.
Anyone know if that is correct? Because there was talk that the Republicans would also pursue tax “reform” under reconciliation.
Short Hatch: This pile of money proved way too hard to steal, let’s find something easier.
It appears the GOP Senate is neutering Trump on the political front, but he’s still being allowed to steal from the nation.
Saw that story from reddit floating after the McCain vote. Brian Beutler (I think – I might remember wrong) said it was not true. I haven’t confirmed it myself yet.
Indivisible says once per budget (fiscal year).
https://www.indivisibleguide.com/resource/legislative-process-budget-reconciliation/