Saturday, July 01, 2017

A number of Republican Senators are begging Mitch McConnell to cancel the August recess for fear of what they may face from constituents this 4th of July after failing to make progress on a health care bill.

Courtesy of WaPo: 

An even larger group of Senate Republicans suggested Friday that McConnell should scale back or cancel the chamber’s month-long August recess, given the lack of progress they have made on not just health care but a tax-code overhaul, spending bills, the debt ceiling and a budget resolution. 

Senate Republicans David Perdue (Ga.), Steve Daines (Mont.), Joni Ernst (Iowa), John Neely Kennedy (La.), James Lankford (Okla.), Mike Lee (Utah), Mike Rounds (S.D.), Luther Strange (Ala.), Dan Sullivan (Alaska) and Thom Tillis (N.C.) sent McConnell a letter Friday asking him to shorten or cancel the August recess so they can get more done. 

“Delivering meaningful results was never assumed to be easy, but the millions of Americans who placed their confidence in our leadership expect our full and best effort,” the 10 senators wrote. 

Republicans are steeling themselves for attacks on their health-care negotiations over the July Fourth recess, with progressive activists planning to pressure any members of Congress they see at public events. Most GOP senators were keeping their plans close to their vests, though a handful, including Cassidy, Ted Cruz (Tex.), Susan Collins (Maine), Jerry Moran (Kan.) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) have announced town halls or parade visits. 

Collins, a vocal critic of the current Senate draft, had publicized just one scheduled appearance — in the 1,300-person town of Eastport, Maine, near the Canadian border. 

At (Louisiana Senator Bill) Cassidy’s town hall at the Living Faith Christian Center in Baton Rouge, he tried to make the case for transitioning Medicaid recipients into private insurance. But constituents interrupted him repeatedly, prompting him to chastise them for being rude. 

“I’ll tell you what’s rude — kicking 22 million people off of health care in this country,” said a man in the front row after the senator recognized him to speak. 

The audience erupted into cheers. 

Reminding Cassidy, a medical doctor, of his stint treating patients at a hospital for the uninsured, the man continued: “You worked at Earl K. Long for many years. You know what people are like at their lowest.” 

Senate Democrats are staging events aimed at highlighting how the Senate’s draft bill could hurt health-care delivery in their home states. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) is visiting at least two rural hospitals over the break to underscore the impact of proposed funding cuts.

Yeah I bet these GOP Senators are absolutely dreading these 4th of July events.  

I think that Alaska's two senators are only planning on attending the parades, but I have little doubt that they will be inundated with demands that they protect Medicaid and work to expand health coverage up here.

I especially think that is true of Lisa, who many see as being much more likely to reject the GOP plan, and who is the subject of a lot of anti-repeal advertising on our local radio and television stations right now.

18 comments:

  1. Anonymous1:59 PM

    I honestly don't think that many of his diehard supporters understand (avoiding the word 'stupid') what they're going to lose, especially with cuts to Medicaid.

    Anything to erase every last memory of the Black president. Don't come crying when it happens; you'll just get to be with Jesus that much sooner.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous3:45 PM

      President Obama will NEVER be erased from America's memory. But, we will want to totally erase everything the idiot Trump has done....hopefully, he does not last four years. He's already harmed us horribly and it's only been a few months.

      Trump will never have the respect and admiration as does President Obama.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous5:10 PM

      And that's what fries his lard ass butt. Go ahead, take everything away. It only makes President Obama rise further!

      Delete
    3. Anonymous8:43 PM

      I agree about most of his die hard supporters. They will continue to believe Trump's promises of better and cheaper insurance while waiting for the massive amount of jobs he will make a deal for.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous2:15 PM

    OT: It's amazing how Ivanka's daughter looks so much like Ivanka did before all of the plastic surgery. Hint: she's not an attractive child and will probably grow up to be just as crooked and evil as her parents and grandparents.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Anonymous5:07 PM

      I find natural much more attractive than chin implants and blinding white veneers. Just bathe. That's all that's necessary. Ivanka was fine physically. Unfortunately the ratlike mindset can't be erased.Sad.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous2:29 PM

    For seven years the GOP in Congress has talked of nothing but "repealing Obamacare." One would have thought that by now they would have been able to come up with a rational replacement. This whole mess just shows what a disaster the 21st century GOP is. And now, on top of their own Congressional incompetence they've given us a totally insane president! I'm relieved that we have two Democratic senators. I'd sure camp out at the local office of a GOP senator if we were unlucky enough to have one and he/she were foolish enough to come home on a break.
    Beaglemom

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    1. Anonymous4:40 PM

      Totally agree with you Beaglemom. I am also from Michigan.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous6:02 PM

      The problem is that the Republicans in Congress are ONLY skilled at obstruction and destruction. They don't know how to create something positive and efficient because they spend so much time trying to keep others from doing so.

      In addition, their main priority is to siphon more money out of the system and into the pockets of the wealthiest, which is contrary to the basic concept of a health care system.

      Of course, the fact that the ACA was essentially a Republican plan that they have since demonized makes their task even more difficult!

      Delete
    3. I agree Beaglemom, now we have to make sure that Senator Stabenow is re-elected. And I sure hope we can get rid of the disgusting Bergman.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous2:44 PM

    What a collection of Fucking Cowards they are! Hey assholes, you claim the people elected you to kill ObamaCare and give tax breaks to the rich, but overlook the fact your base is a bunch of Science denying bible fools along with a unhealthy supply of racists.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Best explanation yet for why Trump voters continue to be Deplorable.

    https://georgelakoff.com/2017/07/01/two-questions-about-trump-and-republicans-that-stump-progressives/

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous2:49 PM

    I guess if they want to stay in Washington, stay in Washington. I'm sure they could find something to do meaningful. Hopefully. It has to tell you something that they don't want to meet with the people who pays them to represent them.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous3:31 PM

      How many town halls have they ran from?

      Delete
  7. Anonymous3:42 PM

    OFF SUBJECT BUT TERRIBLY IMPORTANT, IM!!!

    Did the State of Alaska submit the voting information records they currently hold to President Trump and his designee, per their request?

    I swear to God I will sue Byron Mallott/Walker aka the State of Alaska if they did so!

    Absolutely NONE of that information should be made public and that is what Trump, et al are going to do with it. Our voting data files/records have always been 'private' for the American citizen - not public for illegal use by the potus and his administration or cabinet members!

    Please research this and keep us informed. I'm going to write the ADN Editor and ask that they cover this matter in detail too!

    Trump will do continual harm to our states and country by securing this information.
    Trump is the most unethical potus we have ever seen - he's a liar and fraud and sneaky as they come!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous8:06 PM

      Yes, Alaska is one of the States that is handing over voter data. I cancelled my voter registration Thursday in response to this, not that it will keep my data from getting into their hands as it takes a while for them to actually delete your data, but I'll be damned if I'm going to participate in elections in a State that treats its voter information so casually.

      Trump, who's basically a fascist dictator at this point ,will soon have access to the voter info and voting history in nearly half the states. So a fascist dictator who holds a grudge now has access to your voting history, nice huh?

      Republicans probably don't care but he could easily target non-Republicans. Target how? Who knows, my mind doesn't work like his, but it makes me uncomfortable that a man who holds grudges against non-Republicans now has an enemies list at his disposal.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous12:30 AM

    I guess we thought we were free. Never were. We are sheep. Trained only to watch reality shows, and eat french fries.
    The thought was good tho, right? Democracy. We have been dumbed down so that if you got a percentage of this country, they feel that what Trump and Putin does in this country does not affect them directly. We may not win this one folks until it's way past too late.

    ReplyDelete

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It just goes directly to their thighs.