House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) said Friday morning that he was “disappointed and frustrated” at the Senate’s failure to repeal Obamacare after the House passed its own version of a repeal in May.
“We were sent to Washington to fulfill the pledges we made to our constituents,” Ryan said in a statement. “While the House delivered a bill to repeal and replace Obamacare, unfortunately the Senate was unable to reach a consensus.”
“I am disappointed and frustrated, but we should not give up,” he continued. “I encourage the Senate to continue working toward a real solution that keeps our promise. We have so much work still to do, and the House will continue to focus on issues that are important to the American people. At the top of that list is cutting taxes for middle class families and fixing our broken tax code. I’m glad that members will now take time to hear directly from those they represent and make the case for historic tax reform that we intend to pursue in the fall.”
Senate Republicans attempted on Thursday night to gather enough votes to pass a measure that they themselves did not want to become law. Rather, they planned on using the bill as a vehicle to get to a conference with the House, where the real legislation would be penned.
Ryan, however, made no guarantee to Senate Republicans that House Republicans wouldn’t simply pass the Senate’s bill as-is.
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), whose “no” vote doomed the Senate’s bill, had earlier on Thursday appeared at a press conference with Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA), in which he said he would withhold his support for the bill unless Ryan assured him the House would send it to a conference.
Aw, do you need a safe space, Paulie? Your tears are sweet nectar.
Shit, the House passed a bill that they didn’t want to have become law, either, and now he makes it sound as if they did their part. What self-puffery - or should I say self-fluffery?
Fucking liar.
Lots of praise and attention going around for Collins, Murkowski and McCain today. And good for them. But we should not let anyone forget that it was the Democrats who won this. Who fought Republican abomination after Republican abomination. Beat Trump. Beat McConnell. Beat Ryan. So sure, Collins, Murkowski and McCain stood up to their party for a night, but it was Democrats who dragged them across the finish line to the fawning press coverage they are getting today. And look, John McCain, more TV cameras for you to get in front of again! Life is good! Also, of course, Thanks Obama.