Democrats Take Government Hostage: Threaten To Shut It Down If GOP Repeals Obamacare

Once again Republicans have managed to box themselves in.
Just as the GOP has reportedly found enough votes among conservative Republicans to pass the latest iteration of the proposed Healthcare bill, with Freedom Caucus Mark Meadows saying “republicans will have the votes to pass” Obamacare repeal, Democrats realized that they once again have the leverage to bring this whole process to a grinding halt halt. And they are using it.
As The Hill reports, House Democrats will oppose any short-term spending bill – which is what McConnell was hoping on passing to buy one week of time – if Republican leaders attempt to expedite an ObamaCare repeal bill this week, Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) warned Thursday. In other words, Democrats are now holding the government hostage indefinitely as long as Republicans – who now have the votes to pass new healthcare legislation – threaten to repeal Obamacare.
Hoyer, the Democratic whip, spoke with House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif) Thursday morning to warn him of the Democrats’ position. “If Republicans announce their intention to bring their harmful TrumpCare bill to the House Floor tomorrow or Saturday, I will oppose a one-week Continuing Resolution and will advise House Democrats to oppose it as well,’ Hoyer said in an email.
‘Republicans continue to struggle to find the votes to pass a bill that will kick 24 million Americans off their health coverage, allow discrimination against those with pre-existing conditions, and impose an age tax on older Americans. That’s why they are trying to jam it through the House before their Members can hear from the American people this weekend about their opposition to this horrible legislation.’

This post was published at Zero Hedge on Apr 27, 2017.