Discussion: Horse Trading, Promises Win Over Some Holdouts On Health Care Bill

1 Like

I hope no one is taking them at their word that they will strip out their own exemptions.

And about this, I’ve never understood the excuse that this exemption was necessary because DC is not a State. Of course that was a canard, but Members of Congress are not residents of DC. They are legal residents of their home districts. Why wouldn’t their insurance be purchased on their home state exchanges? Of course some of they’re DC staff would be on the DC exchange (while many if not most, would be in VA or MD). Maybe I’m just making too much of this, but I think their intention was to shield themselves from their own states seeking exemptions.

2 Likes

Its cute that they still think that Trump’s promises to do things mean anything.

2 Likes

Rep. Lou Barletta (R-PA), who previously opposed the American Health Care Act out of fear undocumented immigrants could somehow receive tax credits to purchase health care

Are you fucking kidding me. Stripping health insurance from 24 million citizens is no big deal, but a few illegal immigrants getting credits (which requires, of course, that they’re paying taxes in the first place) is a dealbreaker?

4 Likes

Asked how leadership is trying to win his vote, Curbelo said ruefully: “They’re not trying to convince me.”

So ideas that would actually make the bill work a bit better and be marginally less cruel are still a bridge too far for the Republican Party. And I need to stress “a bit” and “marginally.”

Rep. Lou Barletta (R-PA), who previously opposed the American Health Care Act out of fear undocumented immigrants could somehow receive tax credits to purchase health care, said that his vote has been won over by promises from President Trump and GOP leaders that they will advance a separate bill this month that “will require that a person’s Social Security number is verified before we give them a tax credit.”

Now, where are we handing out these tax credits without verifying social security numbers? I’d like to take advantage of this.

I wonder if Ryan has a good laugh at these clowns that negotiate for things that already exist.