Apparently, Republicans have an unhealthy competition complex. By the looks of the current legislative process, they’re confident that anything Democrats did when passing Obamacare, they can do worse while overhauling it with their own healthcare bill.
After seven years of slamming the opposition for shady legislative practices, it’d be logical to assume they’d try to set a better example. Instead, it seems Republicans have repeated just about every procedural sin Democrats committed.
Rushing to get some sort of legislation across the finish line, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan’s Republicans have negotiated in secret, made underhand deals, and twisted arms. It was easy enough to slam Democrats for this sort of thing. But now Republicans have won enough elections to see themselves become the villains.
Somewhere in the bustle of all the last-minute legislative fury, that irony was lost on the GOP and Rep. Chris Collins, in particular.
Thursday night, Collins did his perfect Nancy Pelosi impersonation when he said his party needed to pass the Obamacare overhaul before they could help the public understand what’s in it. The New York Republican insisted that “once we get it done, then we can have the chance to really explain it.” It’d be funny if Collins wasn’t being dead serious. It’s really just hypocritical and sad.
Unused to this kind of backroom deal, President Trump appears ready to call it quits. Speaking through his OMB Director Mick Mulvaney, the executive has told his unruly party that they either get their act together or lose their repeal chances altogether. While his frustration is understandable, that prescription is untenable.
Obviously, after decrying Obamacare for four election cycles, the GOP has to do something. But when messing around with an industry that accounts for almost one-fifth of the nation’s GDP, it’s best not to be hasty.
Luckily, there’s a better way.
Instead of repeating Democratic mistakes, Republicans have a chance to start fresh. They have a chance to catch their breath Friday afternoon if they let the current version of the healthcare bill fail. Perhaps real reform, negotiated in sunlight at a later date, could restore their reputation.
Philip Wegmann is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
