Posted on 03/25/2017 10:58:52 AM PDT by MagillaX
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans' failure to repeal Barack Obama's health care law deals a serious blow to another big part of President Donald Trump's agenda: tax reform.
Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., say they will soon turn their attention to the first major re-write of the tax code in more than 30 years. But they will have to do it without the momentum of victory on health care.
Just as important, the loss on health care will deprive Republicans of $1 trillion in tax cuts.
The GOP health plan would have repealed nearly $1 trillion in taxes enacted under Obama's Affordable Care Act. The bill coupled the tax cuts with spending cuts for Medicaid, so it wouldn't add to the budget deficit.
Without the spending cuts, it will be much harder for Republicans to cut taxes without adding to the federal government's red ink.
"Yes this does make tax reform more difficult," said Ryan. "But it does not in any way make it impossible."
"That just means the Obamacare taxes stay with Obamacare. We're going to go fix the rest of the tax code," he added.
House Republicans couldn't round up enough votes Friday to repeal and replace a law they despise, raising questions about their ability to tackle other tough issues.
"Doing big things is hard," Ryan conceded as he vowed to press on.
Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, acknowledged that Friday's turn of events made him doubtful about the Republicans' ability to tackle major legislation.
"This was my first big vote and our first big initiative in the line of things to come like tax reform," said the freshman. "I think this would have given us tremendous momentum and I think this hurts that momentum."
(Excerpt) Read more at bigstory.ap.org ...
Not sure how authentic it is. One side is obviously organized, with people using the same talking points and refuted claims.
You're right. People have to realize that sometimes being on different sides of an issue doesn't mean that being an advocate for one side or another makes one traitor to the cause.
In some cases, such as voting for Hillary vs. voting for Trump, that principle does apply. But in others it's a lot more cloudy than that.
Yesterday is a perfect example.
There's no doubt in my mind that Ryan's bill would not have resulted in lower premiums for Americans, and therefore it would have been hung around Trump's neck as "Trumpcare", and then used to damage his chances of re-election in 4 years.
The President would have had to trust that an Establishment Congress would follow through with the remaining "phases", and there's absolutely no guarantee that would have happened. Under such circumstances, Paul Ryan would have been totally in control of President Trump's perceived success (or failure) on the healthcare issue. I can't think of a more dangerous situation.
So, even though it means Obamacare is around for awhile longer, it also means that 1) the Speaker has been severely damaged (good thing) and 2) The Democrat still completely own the abominable failure that is Obamacare.
Hopefully, some decent statesmen in our federal legislature will now end up proposing some health care reforms which actually are base in competitive, free(r) markets, wherein Americans can see their premiums begin to decrease.
The voters and the President made it very clear the types of changes that were needed, and this bill simply wasn't the right way to go.
Paul Ryan has forcefully confirmed his GOPe status, and he should not remain in power as Speaker of the House.
I am convinced that the President dodge a bullet in this instance, and I'm glad he issued his ultimatum which forced the issue. Better to walk away from a bad deal than to adopt something which would have sabotaged his Presidency.
It's very hard for me to accept the argument that Ryan's bill was the "best" that we could come up with, after such a revolutionary election. It was conceived improperly, nehind closed doors—just like the Democrat establishment did under Obama—and it was rolled out incorrectly as well ("take it or leave it").
It was a debacle, but the President was right to express public support. Clearly, behind the scenes, there were some reservations, and if the President had wanted to, he could have allowed the process to drag on; I think, however, that he realized that this just wasn't the right way to go, especially since it would have put him at the mercy of Paul Ryan, who simply cannot be trusted.
Now the President can say "we tried it your (Ryan's) way, and it didn't work out", so the next attempt won't be led by Paul Ryan, and that's a very, very good thing.
Let's see what Senators Cruz, Paul, and Lee can muster.
Another thing which is mind-blowing is how all of these good versions of repeal & replace were sent to Obama's desk, and yet now the same legislation couldn't be sent to President Trump's desk. There is no doubt the President would have signed such legislation.
Our rulers are truly a bunch of Uniparty weasels, and that, unfortunately, is almost as true for the GOP as for the Democrats. It does not bode well for this President's success—to have to work with the swamp in order to drain the swamp. Seems like a Catch-22...
Oh for crying out loud. Is it better Obamacare gets tied around Trump’s neck like an albatross? Was it Never Trumpers that defeated this?
Well said.
The only solution is for us to Cantorize the weasels.
That is the only way the swamp gets drained of the swamp creatures.
Exactly. This is hardly the forum to rabble rouse against conservatives.
That’s exactly what Ryan was trying to do. Change Obamacare to Trumpcare, tie it around his neck to make him a one term President so they could get back to business as usual, importing cheap labor and selling out America.
Surprising to me how many here wanted to preserve Obamacare as Ryancare.
Yes. I’m sick of it. They seem to have no understanding. When it’s explained they continue their attacks against conservatives. Gope cucks.
“Just as important, the loss on health care will deprive Republicans of $1 trillion in tax cuts. “
The real idiots are the ones that believe that the Bill Ryan offered up was a repeal. That would be you Fan.
Mystery to me as well, but he did. The Freedom Caucus saved his Presidency from himself if he can keep it.
As long as there is money to divide there will be division.
I agree with you. Aand I’m one of the few here that does.
I’m watching the market very closely and will be doing that hour by hour when the tax negotiations begin.
If any of these 20 Freedom Caucus Utopian dreamers start signalling that that are going to stymie this tax cut bill, due to their utopian dreams, I’m moving my large cap, mid cap , S&P 500 stocks to super conservative baskets.
Glad you brought this up. Until Jim totally got on board the Trump Train it was bloody, people that were outraged by the NBC lie for Obama suddenly found that it wasn't so bad if they were a Canuck.
Good summation. I hope to God Ryan doesn’t pull these same stunts on tax reform. If he does, all the confidence in business because of Trump will go away. One problem in Congree with budget is they don’t consider growth, so when they cut tax they have to make it up somewhere else.
Since the filibuster doesn't serve its intended purpose of driving the majority and minority to negotiate a moderate compromise, given the ultra-partisan obstructionism of Senate democrats, McConnell should go ahead and do the rule change and bury the filibuster for good. Then we can pass comprehensive legislation that works sufficiently for all Republicans, and get the government back on a constitutional basis. We'll own it, since the dems will vote against everything no matter what, but we will have to have the guts to push forward anyway.
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