Popular vote loser Donald Trump wants to say he got Obamacare repeal done in his first 100 days and it appears that House Speaker Paul Ryan is at least considering indulging his wish, despite the very real possibility of a fail that could be even bigger than the last one.
A Friday health care vote isn't "outside the realm," Republican Study Committee Chairman Mark Walker told Axios, adding that people are discussing a Friday vote and things are "even trending that direction."
"Most of them like what they see, so we're considering to grow the vote, and when we're ready, we'll move," said House Majority Whip Steve Scalise.
Yes, but: Both the White House and GOP House leadership are cautious about setting artificial deadlines. That's what they did last time and it backfired. They believe a vote this week is possible, though they're unwilling to say "likely."
Once again, they're talking about rushing a bill to the floor before it's been read, before it's been scored by the Congressional Budget Office (but, hey, they're getting a score from an insurance industry consulting group, so that's kind of the same. Right?). Moderates are steadily trickling in with their continued opposition. So Ryan is going to have to do it with the help of the Freedom Caucus maniacs, if it gets done (though, they're not all on board, either).
That means forcing more than two dozen vulnerable members to vote on a bill that is even worse than the last one Ryan tried to force them to vote on. And get this: they'll be voting on it with the dubious promise that the part of it that will really enrage their constituents—the part that exempts members of Congress from the bad shit in it—will be stripped out AFTER they vote. Yeah, that'll work!
The other part that hasn't changed is that a bill that's even worse than the last one is never going to pass the Senate. So Ryan will be asking them to take a really shitty vote for a bill that won't get through the Senate for the most unpopular new president ever. Because he wants to say he did something in his first 100 days.
House Republicans want to bring back Trumpcare—and it’s being amended to be even worse to placate their extreme right-wing base. Call the Capitol Hill switchboard at 202-224-3121. Tell your member of Congress in no uncertain terms that you OPPOSE any efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act.