Hmm. I thought repeal of the horrible federal health-care reform was No. 1 on the to-do list of congressional Republicans. Michigan Congressman Dave Camp, R-Midland, made a bid to wipe out the key element of the system this week — and it failed.
Some House Republicans, including Congressman Pete Hoekstra, R-Holland, didn’t even cast a vote on Camp’s amendment. (Mid-Michigan Republicans Mike Rogers and Vern Ehlers voted yes; Democrat Mark Schauer voted no.) The amendment failed 230-187, with 15 members not voting.
I know Republicans are expecting to make huge gains in the House election this fall, enough to reverse a 187-230 loss. But the House’s rules always made it the easier chamber for repeal work. If repeal isn’t an easy winner on the easy side, what prospects does it have over in the Senate, which operates with arcane, self-imposed rules that give almost total authority to a 41-member minority?
Some House Republicans, including Congressman Pete Hoekstra, R-Holland, didn’t even cast a vote on Camp’s amendment. (Mid-Michigan Republicans Mike Rogers and Vern Ehlers voted yes; Democrat Mark Schauer voted no.) The amendment failed 230-187, with 15 members not voting.
I know Republicans are expecting to make huge gains in the House election this fall, enough to reverse a 187-230 loss. But the House’s rules always made it the easier chamber for repeal work. If repeal isn’t an easy winner on the easy side, what prospects does it have over in the Senate, which operates with arcane, self-imposed rules that give almost total authority to a 41-member minority?
