Speaker Ryan Rallies House GOP To Repeal Obamacare

House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis. walks to the House Chamber on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, May 4, 2017. The Republican health care bill, a top-flight priority the party nearly left for dead six weeks ago, he... House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis. walks to the House Chamber on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, May 4, 2017. The Republican health care bill, a top-flight priority the party nearly left for dead six weeks ago, headed toward a House showdown vote. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) MORE LESS
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House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) gave an energized speech on the House floor Thursday, ahead of Republicans’ vote to repeal and replace Obamacare.

“You know, a lot of us have been waiting seven years to cast this vote,” Ryan told the charged chamber.

People in attendance, presumably congressional Democrats, reportedly yelled “read the bill!” and “where’s the score?!” referring to the lack of a Congressional Budget Office analysis of the amended proposal’s economic and coverage impact.

“Many of us are here because we pledged to cast this very vote,” Ryan continued. “To repeal and replace Obamacare. To rescue people from this collapsing law.”

Republicans cheered affirmatively as Ryan polled the chamber:

“Are we going to meet this test? Are we going to be men and women of our word? Are we going to keep the promises we made?”

The mood recalled reports from the Republican conference meeting on Thursday morning, which featured the “Rocky” theme song, according to The Hill. The same publication reported that Rep. Martha McSally, according to unnamed sources in the room, told her colleagues: “Let’s get this fucking thing done!”

As Ryan concluded his speech, Vice News’ Alexandra Jaffe reported a spotting of a cart full of Bud Light rolling into the Capitol.

Buses were parked outside, Fox News’ Chad Pergram reported. And the President notified representatives via his Twitter account that he had readied the Rose Garden to celebrate were the bill to pass:

“We have the opportunity to show that we’ve got the resolve to tackle they will big challenges in this country before they tackle us,” Ryan bellowed in conclusion. “To stop the drift of arrogant big government policies in our lives and to begin a new era of reform based on liberty and self-determination, giving people choices, letting them control their own destinies!”

At slightly past 2:00 p.m. ET, the House passed the bill.

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Notable Replies

  1. “You know, a lot of us have been waiting seven years to cast this vote,” Ryan told the charged chamber.

    As you did 65 other times.

  2. Another sad day for America.

  3. Karma has a southern drawl…

  4. I hope they party like their plane’s going down, because they just sealed their fate.

    Goodbye GOP.

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