Mediaboss Marketing

President Trump says he is "so confident" the Senate will pass the American Health Care Act and send it to his desk to be signed into law but Republican senators say there's a lot of work to be done. (Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post)

Some more literally and clumsily than others, Republican lawmakers are running from the House-passed American Health Care Act. Back home, Rep. Rod Blum (R-Iowa) ran away from questioning about the AHCA, Newsweek reports: On Monday afternoon, the staunchly conservativeRepublican andmember of the House Freedom Caucusfled an interview withJosh Scheinblum, a reporter with TV9 in Dubuque, after Scheinblum had the temerity to ask Blum a series of difficult questions.

Asked why he wanted to exclude those from outside his district from a town hall, Blum got testy:

I dont represent all Iowans, Blum countered, still smiling but with a newfound edge to his voice. I represent the First District of Iowa.Thatd be like saying, shouldnt I be able to, even if I live in Dubuque,go vote in Iowa City during the election because Id like to vote in that district instead?

A child behind Blum offereda charming grin, likely unrelated to the healthcare debate. [Local reporter Josh] Scheinblum then posedthe following question: Would you still take donations from a Republican in Iowa City?

At this point, Blum rose and beganto pull off the microphone attached to his gray pullover sweater.

This is ridiculous, a visibly agitated Blum declared as he prepared to leave.Hes just gonna sit here and just, just badger me.

The Cedar Rapids Gazette reported that his town hall didnt go much better:

Rep. Rod Blum, R-Iowa, met a hostile crowd Monday night in his hometown while fielding questions on topics ranging from health care and immigration to school vouchers and climate change.

He took the podium to a mix of cheers, boos and applause from a crowd of about 1,000 at Dubuque Senior High School. After an introductory statement, Blum took questions from crowd members selected at random during the town hall event.

The two-term incumbent faced regular interruptions from shouted questions, stomping feet and boos when delivering answers in support of last weeks U.S. House bill repealing and replacing major provisions of the federal health care law known as Obamacare. Blum voted in favor of the bill.

Even before his vote, Blum was one of the Republicans at risk in 2018. He may be even more vulnerable than initial ratings projected after Mondays meltdown.

By contrast, Republican senators are carefully pivoting from the terms of a bill that they know is without policy or political merit. Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), just reelected in Ohio by a huge margin, told Fox News, I think we can do better bytaking what the House haspassed, improving it in certainways, being sure we arent pulling therug out from under peoplewho are currently getting coverage and at the end of the day, over timebegin to see these premiums andthese co-pays and deductibleslevel off and not continue torise. Obviously, the Trumpcare bill doesnt help matters. Portman added: This is the biggest problem wehave really in our economy, too.Wages are flat and yet expensesare up and the number oneincreased cost is healthcare.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is painting quite a contrast with the feverish, irresponsible process the House went through. This process will not be quick or simple or easy, but it must be done, he said on Monday.

So why was it then that the House felt so compelled to throw together a bill with no Congressional Budget Office scoring, no robust debate, no hearings and no participation by Democrats? House leadership obviously made a political calculation pass an indefensible bill and then lieaboutit. Thats not an option for the Senate, which will be expected to pass something that works. Judging by what Blum encountered, the House approach isnt working even on political terms.

See the article here:
Republicans are running from the AHCA - Washington Post (blog)