Robert Costa, Mike DeBonis, and Ed O’Keefe – The Washington Post:
House Republican leaders abruptly pulled a rewrite of the nation’s health-care system from consideration on Friday, a dramatic defeat for President Trump and House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) that leaves a major campaign promise unfulfilled and casts doubt on the Republican Party’s ability to govern.
There’s reason to celebrate in this, but not much to gloat over. That bill had so little constituency it’s a wonder Speaker Ryan kept moving it forward. It’s a fair to ask what would have been worse, making the bill law and abruptly ending health insurance for 24 million Americans, or failing to pass the bill and failing on a major campaign promise and the centerpiece of Mr. Trump’s first 100 days in office.
Congressmen got an earful from back home all week – there was just no way that odious tripe would pass in the House, let alone in the Senate.
Good riddance. Let’s move on. The ACA can still use some well-placed tweaking: the penalty for not taking a policy under the individual mandate shouldn’t be cheaper than the policy itself. If Republicans want to avoid “implosion” of state exchanges, that’s what they should be looking at. A slap on the wrist is no penalty at all.
#ACA #AHCA #GOP #Ryan #Trump
A Random Stroll 