Paul Ryan Reads Song About Sailors Drowning in a Shipwreck to Republicans After Health Care Failure
As Republican lawmakers were left reeling in the wake of the dramatic failure of the Senate bill to repeal parts of the Affordable Care Act, the mood on the Hill was morbid, according to Politico.
In the dead of night, senators held a vote on what has been dubbed the “skinny repeal” of Obamacare — the legislation would not fully eliminate the ACA, but would repeal its individual and employer mandates, the medical device tax and defund Planned Parenthood.
But the GOP skinny repeal was defeated by a 51-49 margin, thanks to three errant Republicans — Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and John McCain, who voted “No” with a dramatic Gladiatoresque thumbs-down display on the Senate floor.
And Speaker of the House Paul Ryan met with congressmen in a closed-door conference after the failure, and reportedly delivered a swan song for those efforts:
Ryan read an excerpt from “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” a song about sailors drowning in a 1975 shipwreck. He likened the tune to what he deemed the Senate’s tragic failure to repeal Obamacare.
You can listen to that song here:
As Politico notes, “GOP House members lit into their Senate counterparts Friday, fingering them — and only them — for the death of a seven-year campaign promise.”
Ann Wagner of Missouri had particularly harsh words for the senators:
“The House time and time again has passed strong legislation and the Senate isn’t able to get anything to the finish line,” said Rep. Ann Wagner (R-Mo.) a top deputy whip for GOP leaders. “We want to see them get off the dime and get moving. This is a disappointment. It’s a failure for the American people — and this is on the Senate.”
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy promised to not give up on repealing Obama’s signature health care law:
“We’re not going to give up on health care,” he said. “We’re going to have to take a different route based upon the Senate, unless the Senate is able to wake up and realize what they did and come to their senses.”
[image via screengrab]
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