The Mystery of the Missing Health Care Bill

It’s a new low.  The Republican majority in the Senate is secretly crafting revisions into their pitiful first attempt putting forth their ACHA – American Health Care Act (a.k.a. the Anti Health Care Act).

The Repugnican Leadership has chosen to take their work underground.  The secret approach is their way of assuring that no one knows what they’ve done until it is too late.  Who knows what they might bury in some dark corner of the tome.  Having a majority, Republicans can control floor debates at will. There will be very little time for those oppose them to carefully read and analyze the effects of the revised AHCA proposal on our citizenry before debates.  I anticipate the Repugnicans will propagandize their plan in tilted summaries for the public when the actual bill is released.  Is this how to run a democracy?

When the Republican House of Reps.’ hastily released its first attempt at an ACHA, listening to and learning from vehemently angry constituents in Town Hall Meetings thereafter was a sobering experience for them.  After the Repugnican Senators’ work finally sees the light of day I doubt if any will hold any Town Hall Meetings .

The lowest of Repugnicans, Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell, is responsible for this underhanded strategy to jam this despicable legislation through.  I am 99% certain that their program, if legislated, will deeply cut expenditures designed to benefit the poor.  The Repugnicans will need those funds to give to the rich (including the President) in a Trumped up Repugnican tax cut strategy specifically designed for them.  LUDICROUS!!  Wealthy corporations and individuals hardly need any more than the 90% of this country they already own.  How many yachts do they deserve?

Oh, and to deflect attention from enriching the rich, the rest of us will get a token tax break.  How nice, we all get an opportunity to exploit the powerless in our great nation.

I am greatly surprised that McConnell has been able to keep the lid on the ACHA.  Surely there must be at least a few Republican Senators who are patriotic enough to know that the end does not justify the means in a democracy.  This surreptitious strategy is unworthy of any Senator who supports it.  This so blatantly violates the mutual respect that is required for equanimity – a cornerstone of American Democracy – as to grievously injure the soul of America.

The Republicans may truly believe that they have the right point of view, but their secretive, underhanded method of achieving their goals negates any vestige of allegiance to the American Way.  The flag pins on Repugnicans’ lapels are an insulting lie.  Their actions are a major desecration of all that the American Flag stands for.

Last March, four Republican Senators, Rob Portman (Ohio), Shelley Moore Capito (West Virginia), Cory Gardner (Colorado), and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), signed a letter to Mitch McConnell voicing their concerns over the contents of a leaked copy of the AHCA.  It’s nice to know that some on that side of the aisle are concerned about the impact of this proposed legislation on everyday folks.  But no Republican Senator, to my knowledge, has publically objected to the secretive process that made only a leaked version of the bill available to them.

Is there no Republican Senator with the courage to stand up and call this what it is?  Susan Collins, where are you?  John McCain, please take a stand on this.  Jeff Flake, Marco Rubio, Lamar Alexander, Susan Murkowski, Michael Lee, are you there?

Are none of our Republican Senators appalled by how and where McConnell & Co. are leading them? Are they all willing to be a party to this process, the antithesis of democratic governance?

Is this disease that deeply bedded in our system now?

 

My country, right or wrong?

No sir.  My country rights its wrongs.

 

I sincerely hope this will be a case in point.

Published by

Jim

Baby Boomer, Born in 1951 in Stamford, CT (Had no choice) Public Schools: Springdale Elementary, Dolan Jr. High, Stamford High - Class of 1969 (Solid public school education) Parents: James Frederick Ash (1921-1965) and Dorothy Johnson Ash (1923 - 2011) (Dad died too soon, Mom suffered too long without him) Attended Virginia Polytechnic Institution - 1969-70 (A big mistake) Graduated Central Connecticut State College (now University) 1970-73 B.S. English Secondary Education and Philosophy (double major) cum laude Fairfield University 1977-80 M.A. Corporate and Political Communications Married 1974 to Doris Mae Plourde, Brunswick, ME (Still married. Who knows, might last after all) English Teacher at Stamford High 1974-79 (In the days of Welcome Back Kotter - my students actually called themselves "sweathogs") Changed Careers and Became a Father in the Same Week, September 1979, Daughter Lauren Diane Father again, February 1983 Son Thomas Carl Client Communications Specialist, Marsh & McLennan, Incorporated, New York 1979-96, left as Managing Director Managing Director Communications - Strategic Account Management (SAM) Aon Risk Services, New York 1996-2005 (Recruited from Marsh) Director Client Communications, Integro Insurance Brokers, New York, 2005-07 (Recruited to help launch start up brokerage company - Fun!) Semi-retired to Orrs Island, Harpswell, ME 2007-15 (My "hermit" period) Grandfather as of December 2014 (The hands-down best job I've ever had!) Co-owner with Doris of the world's most spectacular dog, Charley 2010 (He's the absolute best) Retired, Westport, CT 2015 to date ( Survivor, (so far) Hit by car 1956 Coronary Angioplasty 1998 World Trade Center Disaster 2001 Prostate Cancer 2005 Double By-pass Surgery 2015 Malignant tumor on left kidney - kidney removed, tumor and all 2018 Lifelong Liberal Democrat (One of two in all of Marsh. Fortunately the other one was Chairman) Decent sense of humor (Would be better without the puns I'm told) Blogger (e.g., a writer without any other outlet) Friend of many Enemy of few Not as boring than as this summary might indicate

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