History was made
last night. The Republican Congress, after nearly seven months,
failed, for the last time, to pass a tax bill that they called a
healthcare bill, a bill that all of them were elected to pass. It
was one of the most reprehensible, cynical and dishonest bills of our time, for a number of
reasons, not least of which is that it would have had a devastating
effect on a large number of the people of Otsego County, and their
children and grandchildren.
Very few votes take
place in Congress without the leadership knowing where every vote is
going. It was clear that all Dems would vote against, with Linda
Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) also voting against.
That would result in a 50-50 split, and Vice President Mike Pence,
also Constitutionally appointed President of the Senate, would vote
to break the tie (the only time he can vote). But then this happened.
My take on this
clip: The roll call vote is called alphabetically, and McCain was
out of the room when his name came up. They're on the 'P's when he
reenters (bottom right). He walks up to the desk and gets the
secretary's attention, between Peters and Portman, and gives his
vote. No. Mitch McConnell, Senate Majority Leader, hangs his
head; his career may be over. Kirsten Gillebrand, in the black
dress, one of our NY Senators, jumps up in astonished delight. Elizabeth Warren,
already standing, in the blue/green jacket, applauds spontaneously.
Bernie Sanders pokes the guy next to him in glee. The Republicans
(left side of chamber) seem frozen in shock.
This is how history
is made.
I am so grateful to
John McCain and Linda Murkowski and Susan Collins and all the
Americans who called and wrote their elected officials and crowded
into Town Halls and spoke their minds. When we talk about America
and freedom, that's what we're talking about: citizens taking risks
in order to participate in their own government, without fear of
reprisal. And 'thank you' also to all the Congressional Democrats
who never wavered, never budged an inch, even those elected from red
states and tossup districts.
I am grateful
because millions of Americans, and thousands of Otsego County
residents, can continue to hope that good healthcare is within their
reach, and within the reach of their children and grandchildren. One
vote would have taken that all away.
By the way, the
failure of the Senate bill kills the Faso-Collins Amendment, which
was attached to the House bill. The House bill, of course, goes
nowhere unless there is a corresponding Senate bill to send to the
Conference Committee, and that's what failed last night. Two or
three of those bubbles rising from the ooze that the Republican
tax-bill-they-called-a-healthcare-bill sank into are from the
Amendment, and good riddance to it in its final resting place.
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