In the News

Most analysts I'd seen and read have been saying that it would be disastrous for the TrumpCare bill if Republican senators went home over the 4th of July holiday to face constituents without having had a health vote.  The longer the delay, they said, the more time there'd be to study the bill and have all its problems come to light...and have voters back home confront their senators.

Well - the vote is now officially pulled until after the 4th.

The GOP could only afford to have two senators vote against the bill, and it had been facing trouble when four Republican senators early on had said they weren't planning to support the bill in its current state -- though three of those seemed to be flexible.  However, then the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (headed by a Republican) released its report which stated, among other issues, that 22 million Americans would lose their health insurance under this TrumpCare bill.  And another Republican senator said she would not support it -- bringing the number against now to seven, with two definites.  (Dean Heller, who is seriously at-risk in his upcoming re-election campaign in Nevada, and moderate Susan Collins from Maine.) And four other Republican senators are on the fence, undecided.

And so Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delayed the vote until after the holiday.  Meaning senators will have to go home over the 4th of July  to face constiuents without having had a health vote, and more time for problems with the bill to come to light.  And the GOP not able to afford losing one more senator, while also changing the minds of five flexible votes that are already "No."  And the four additional who have not yet voiced support.