Another GOP exercise in futility
The Republicans did it again. They’ve “repealed” Obamacare. There’s a reason why I put these (” “) around the word repeal. Because Obamacare isn’t going anywhere.
On Aug. 2, every Republican in the U.S. House wasted their time, and our tax dollars, by voting to repeal the Affordable Care Act for, this, the 40th time.
That bill, for the 40th time, won’t even make the U.S. Senate, and even if it did — it certainly wouldn’t outlive President Obama’s veto, anyway.
What’s worse (for Republicans) is the fact that as the plan is set for a big rollout in 2014, the Department of Health and Human Services is predicting that some healthcare costs in 10 states and the District of Columbia could be dropping by as much as 18 percent.
If Republicans do plan to takeover the White House and the U.S. Senate after the 2016 elections, many people who’ve seen the benefits of reduced healthcare coverage could, easily, revolt.
Of course, that won’t prevent another national attempt by Republican candidates everywhere to get voters to see the “evils” (I’m using these ” ” again) of Obama’s biggest legislative accomplishment.
They’ll probably forget that President Mitt Romney tried that (did I just write President Mitt Romney?), er, Mitt Romney tried that, and he failed miserably. That’s precisely why the word “President” doesn’t easily fit before the word “Mitt.” And it never would.
These days, Republicans are really good at one thing — frittering away their (and just about everybody else’s) time. Their skill at doing nothing couldn’t be on more display than their stated goal to get rid of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, better known as ACORN.
On Aug. 31, House leaders decided they’d call off debate on an extremely tight-fisted budget proposal that would have led to cuts in transportation, housing programs and community development grants. Part of the proposal would have simply cut off funding for ACORN.
But with the bill on the shelf, collecting dust, some Republicans can still feel heartened, because there’ve been 12 other attempts to defund ACORN dating back to 2011, when the tea party-infused Republican coalition took over the House.
But here’s the kicker. ACORN was disbanded in the spring of 2010. It can’t be defunded, because it doesn’t even exist. Nobody has thought to tell Republicans that you can’t stop something that’s already stopped. Or, as one Democratic aide was overheard to say, “Word is the majority will also prohibit foreign aid to the Ottoman Empire this year.”
But Republican House members aren’t the only people barking up the wrong place where trees used to be. Consider the ill-conceived legislative tactic Texas Senator Ted Cruz has been going around hinting at. He wants to shutdown the whole U.S. Government if Democrats don’t agree to “repeal” Obamacare.
The guy’s got spunk. But he doesn’t have many Republicans who’re dumb enough to try that. In fact, Vice President Paul Ryan (Oops, I mean) Paul Ryan has already gone on record saying he doesn’t think a government shutdown is advised. He still would like to do away with Obamacare, but he claims “there are more effective ways of achieving that goal.”
If I know Paul Ryan, he’ll keep that “more effective way” to himself, because he never really did unveil any feasible economic plan ahead of his failed bid for the vice presidency.
Cruz may have spunk, but he isn’t exactly finding many of his Republican cohorts who’re willing to go to war with him over a government shutdown. There are a few Republicans who seem to want him to keep his silly (not my word) ideas to himself.
Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee claims, “Oh, I think it’s a silly effort …. I don’t look at that as very courageous.” Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) doesn’t mince any words either. “I think it’s the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard of. … Listen, as long as Barack Obama is president, the Affordable Care Act is going to be law,” Burr claimed.
Civil war has broken out all over the Republican Party. Pass me the popcorn.
Uniontown native Edward A. Owens is a three-time Emmy Award winner and 20-year veteran of television news. Email him at freedoms@bellatlantic.net