Ted Cruz Jumps On The Repeal And Delay Train

FILE - In this Feb. 3, 2017 file photo, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, departs the Senate chamber on Capitol Hill in Washington. Republican ranks in Congress are thick with hard-right lawmakers elected to thwart former Pres... FILE - In this Feb. 3, 2017 file photo, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, departs the Senate chamber on Capitol Hill in Washington. Republican ranks in Congress are thick with hard-right lawmakers elected to thwart former President Barack Obama and light on nuts-and-bolts legislators, especially those experienced in working with a GOP president. That could prove to be a formidable challenge as Republicans transition from an opposition party to a governing one. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) MORE LESS
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Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) on Thursday backed a plan endorsed by President Donald Trump to pass a bill to repeal Obamacare immediately and come up with replacement legislation later.

“If we cannot bring the conference together and agree on repeal legislation, then I think President Trump’s absolutely right that we should pass a clean repeal,” Cruz told reporters following a town hall in Texas, according to the Washington Post.

Last week, Trump backed a plan proposed by Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE) to pass a bill to completely repeal Obamacare immediately with a deadline to replace the law within a year. Such an approach will likely face opposition from several members of the Republican caucus. Several senators shot down that approach in January, and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) recently warned against the approach backed by Trump.

Despite his willingness to pass a clean Obamacare repeal bill if the Senate fails to come to a deal on a repeal and replace bill, Cruz seemed cautiously optimistic  on Thursday that the Senate can reach agreement.

“I believe we can get to yes,” he told reporters, per the Post. “I don’t know if we will.”

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Notable Replies

  1. Well, that’s a waffle if I ever heard one.

    Jerk.

  2. Let’s just blow it up; what could possibly go wrong?? The real question is, did Ted Cruz ever have even a hint of a soul? What a miserable little man…

  3. A complete repeal cannot go the reconciliation path, which means they need 60 votes. Right now they can’t get to 50, and a complete repeal will lose other votes.

    Unless something dramatic happens during this recess (and all indications are, its breaking against McConnell so far), I think this thing is either dead, or McConnell is going to be forced back to the drawing board and start over with something entirely different…which will consume even more time.

  4. The Most Beloved Teabagger Republican Senator in Congress supporting the Most Beloved Of All Republican Death Care Plans.
    So much winning! Why, I may have to retire to my fainting divan! Move over, Miss Lindsey!

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