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Stages II and III are where most of EHBs become included (that the HFC opposes) and this would pass with 60 votes or more with Democratic support. What the HFC did was to inflict what many seem to think is a crippling blow to the Trump presidency that is now wounded, on the ground, and limping. Is this what we wanted? A self-inflicted mortal blow?

1. If the GOP passed a Stage I "fix" for ObamaCare in March/April of 2017 and then 2018 insurance renewals with massive hikes in premiums went out in October/November 2017 (which is exactly what would have happened), then this would have been a "crippling blow" to: (A) the Trump presidency, (B) the Republican House, and (C) the Republican Senate. This is why it was crucial to get something in Stage I that would immediately reduce premiums for people.

2. The only "crippling blow" I see right now is to a GOP House leadership that made President Trump look bad. They never should have drafted the bill and brought Trump into the conversation without having sufficient GOP votes on board. Paul Ryan came out of this looking like a rank amateur as Speaker of the House.

3. If the House bill was constrained in any way by the realities of the 52-48 margin in the Senate, then a Senate bill should have been drafted first and used as the foundation of the House bill.