House Republicans Pass 50th Attempt to Alter Obamacare

Another day, another Republican attempt to change Obamacare.

Washington’s Congressional gridlock is caused by the Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives and Democrat-led Senate, that have completely opposite views on most things.

The house voted for a one year delay in the tax penalty Americans will pay under Obamacare, if they decline (or fail) to enroll in health coverage.

This was the 50th bill Obamacare improvement bill in the House.

They don’t give up easily when they are on a mission.

Unlike most changes introduced and passed by the Senate Democrat majority, in order to strengthen their chances in the midterm elections, the aim of this Republican bill was to actually help working Americans, effective immediately.

Most House-approved votes die a quick death in the Democratic-held Senate.

Nervous Democratic candidates are starting to turn a deaf ear to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), the bill destroyer, in an effort to secure reelection from their increasingly angry electorates.

But some bills pass the Senate – Democrat bills. As an example of this, the Senate made 31 changes to Obamacare, which were quickly signed by President Obama. Those 31 changes speak volumes about the people who wrote that law and the way it was forced through without scrutiny.

This latest Obamacare vote in the House provided a good example of jittery Democrat candidates protecting their political rear end.

The measure to delay the tax penalty passed 250-160, with 27 Democrats and 223 Republicans supporting the legislation. The Democratic-controlled Senate is still likely to reject it.

We are eight months out from the election, and the 27 House Democrats put a spin on their vote, claiming they “cast the legislation as an issue of fairness.” Of course, they did it knowing the Senate would reject it.

Republicans responded with their own spin.

“This is an opportunity to stop the political games and put working Americans first”
– House Majority Leader Eric Cantor.

Predictably, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi D-CA) was not happy. She said, “It’s time for Republicans to end their obsession with upending health reform and work with Democrats to strengthen it.”

Isn’t that the same Nancy Pelosi who didn’t urged others to pass it before reading it?

Now we hear that around 4 million people have enrolled in private insurance through the marketplaces. The term “enrolled” does not mean paid for insurance. It just means enrolled. No statistics yet on who has already paid a premium after enrolling.

The Democrat spin on the 4 million is that 4 million people can now afford healthcare, but that isn’t what the 4 million means. We will have to wait longer to discover how many of those 4 million actually got the insurance after enrolling in the exchange.

The controversial portions of Obamacare are sure to be on the minds of voters come November.

Dwight L. Schwab Jr.
Dwight L. Schwab Jr. is a moderate conservative who looks at all sides of a story, then speaks his mind. He has written more than 3500 national political and foreign affairs columns. His BS in journalism from the University of Oregon, with minors in political science and American history stands him in good stead for his writing.

Publishing

Dwight has 30-years in the publishing industry, including ABC/Cap Cities and International Thomson. His first book, "Redistribution of Common Sense - Selective Commentaries on the Obama Administration 2009-2014," was published in July, 2014. "The Game Changer - America's Most Stunning Presidential Election in History," was published in April 2017.

Location

Dwight is a native of Portland, Oregon, and now a resident of the San Francisco Bay Area.
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