Let's talk about a busy day on Capitol Hill with the GOP bucking Trump.... - Belle of the Ranch

[TexasTowelie]

Well, howdy there Internet people. It's Belle again. So, today we're going to talk about a busy day on Capitol Hill from Trump and the GOP.

We'll start in the House. As the expert said, healthcare premiums skyrocketed after Republicans ripped tax credits from the working class. Now, the US House of Representatives passed legislation to bring back the tax credits that lowered premiums through the Affordable Care Act. The House voted 230 to 196 to approve a bill that would extend the credits for 3 years. 17 Republicans crossed the aisle to support the bill and their constituents. All Democrats supported the bill. Reminder, Trump's promised comprehensive health care plan still hasn't been seen.

Over on the other side of Capitol Hill in the Senate, five Republicans broke with the party to advance a war powers resolution. The Senate voted 52 to 47 to advance the resolution that would curb further action in Venezuela in a procedural vote. The full vote is expected next week. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Todd Young of Indiana, Susan Collins of Maine, and Josh Hawley of Missouri voted to stop Trump's efforts.

In response, Trump said, "Republicans should be ashamed of the senators that just voted with Democrats in attempting to take away our powers to fight and defend the United States of America." Reminder, the pretext has already fallen. It's about oil and minerals, not defending the US.

Here's the thing. The Senate will have to pass the ACA package the House passed, and the House would have to pass any war powers resolution if it makes it through the final vote. Both are currently unlikely to succeed as is in the other chamber.

As Trump starts quacking like a lame duck more often, we're likely to see this dynamic more often. Senators run statewide. Representatives run in districts. They have different electoral concerns and cater to different groups. Senators need a wider coalition, so they tend to more broadly reflect the feelings of America as a whole. We very well might see an amended version of the House ACA package make it through.

This dynamic of House versus Senate is a phase we have to go through before Trump truly reaches lame duck status. But GOP resistance to Trump's worst policies is starting to move beyond simply saying it's bad.

But that didn't help Colorado. The attempt to override Trump's veto of a water infrastructure project that would have primarily benefited Trump supporters failed to get the votes needed. The bill initially passed with unanimous support. That means many Republicans in the House are still willing to set their own beliefs and Americans aside when Trump orders them to. As the dynamic sits right now, it seems clear that if Republicans lose the midterms, they'll break from Trump even more frequently.

Anyway, it's just a thought. Y'all have a good day.