Tonight’s question, greetings, and banter here. (More)
Today House Speaker Paul Ryan revealed the bait-and-switch behind the American Wealthcare Act by saying the devastating CBO report was good news because “CBO also finds that this legislation will provide massive tax relief, dramatically reduce the deficit, and make the most fundamental entitlement reform in more than a generation.” Speaker Ryan and other Republicans also celebrated the CBO’s finding that average premiums will ultimately decline, but only because older and sicker working-class Americans won’t be able to afford insurance at all. For example, a 64-year-old earning $26,500 per year in 2026 would pay an estimated $1700 for health insurance under Obamacare, and an eye-popping $14,600 – over half his/her annual income – under the Wealthcare Act. And all that to give millionaires and billionaires a permanent tax cut. Surprisingly, many House Republicans are standing up for the elderly and working poor in their districts, including some who voted for the bill in committees before the CBO report was issued, and even Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) said balked at the skyrocketing premiums for older working Americans. Will Out House Sewer Spewer Sean Spicer’s torrent of lies corral enough GOP votes to save this disastrous bill?
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Today on Campus
Mixed Nuts – The CBO vs. the Wealthcare Act
Tuesday’s Tale – March Madness
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Credit: Adobe Stock Images. Standard License.
I doubt it. From other stories in the political press, just about all those Republicans who hold districts that have large elderly or poor populations are visualizing the ads for next year, and going “nope! nope! nope!” when it comes to trying get reelected.
Social chatter: We’ve got about 14″ of snow right now, with more falling. I’ve been out three times to shovel my porch and steps. Just to show you what you’re missing, this is my landlady’s car about 20 minutes ago:
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab49/norbrookc/Personal/General%20Stuff/IMG_20170314_173257_zpsph3ss0be.jpg
Yikes, lotsa lotsa snow. Stay safe, especially while shoveling or (shudder) driving, Norbrook! 🙂
To give you an idea, at 7:00 AM, that car had no snow on it at all. Fortunately, it’s a powder, so it’s not hard to shovel.
How’s the wind? Good that you don’t have to go out
No real wind. Mostly this is just coming straight down. Three very brief (<2 minutes) power outages, which I hope is it.
I’ve moved from “despondent” to “cautiously optimistic” to, today, “downright hopeful.” I think the CBO score was the last straw for too many Republicans who know the pile of lies behind the American Wealthcare Act is collapsing beneath their feet.
I think it’s too early to tell what the final bill will be and if it will pass. Spicer doesn’t have to run for reelection. The people who do are finding that some of their constituents are well informed and live in reality world not in falling for lies world.
They had 7 years! 7! What a mess!