Why Mitch McConnell is making the Senate vote on doomed Obamacare repeal

[Right_in_Virginia]

Why Mitch McConnell is making the Senate vote on doomed Obamacare repeal
Washington Examiner, Jul 19, 2017, David M. Drucker

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., aims to send a message to the Republicans he leads: After four elections and seven years of promising to repeal Obamacare, it's time to choose.

That's why, knowing full well the votes weren't there, McConnell switched from the Better Care Reconciliation Act, which would partially repeal and replace Obamacare, to the straight-repeal legislation that Senate Republicans approved in 2015, when President Barack Obama was still around to veto it.

McConnell couldn't round up the 50 out of 52 available Republican votes he needed to pass BCRA. The bill collapsed amid complaints about a leadership-driven legislative process and philosophical differences among conservatives and centrists about what to do with Medicaid.

But the majority leader essentially thinks Republicans are making excuses.

To teach them a lesson about governing, and smoke out exactly where various members stand on Obamacare repeal, McConnell is forcing a tough vote on a bill that's likely doomed — an unusual move for a political operator who always has his eye on the next election.

"These members have to be held accountable," said a Republican operative familiar with McConnell's strategy, who like others interviewed by the Washington Examiner, requested anonymity in order to speak candidly.


Read more:  http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/why-mitch-mcconnell-is-making-the-senate-vote-on-doomed-obamacare-repeal/article/2629043

[driftdiver]

One of the people on Foxnews this morning suggested forcing a vote so that each of these people will be on record.   I dont trust McConnell but its a start.

[Right_in_Virginia]

One of the people on Foxnews this morning suggested forcing a vote so that each of these people will be on record.   I dont trust McConnell but its a start.

I agree .. let's get them on record.  It's too easy to say "no" from the shadows without any consequence.

[Polly Ticks]

Good. 

You can say what you want about Mitch -- and I've said plenty myself -- but the fact is that Trump's big Judge Gorsuch win would have never been possible without Mitch.

This is another one of his rare good moves.

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

Theater.  Once there are three nay votes from republicans, the rest can vote aye safely and claim they supported it.

Be funny if a few dems votes aye to smoke out more of the traitors and/or screw with mcturtle.