Vichy GOP Skullduggery

Posted on | April 6, 2014 | 8 Comments

by Smitty

“Maybe you say it helps (Obamacare), but it really helps the small businessman,” said Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn., one of several physician-lawmakers among Republicans and an advocate of repeal.
No member of the House GOP leadership has publicly hailed the fix, which was tucked, at Republicans’ request, into legislation preventing a cut in payments to doctors who treat Medicare patients.
It is unclear how many members of the House rank and file knew of it because the legislation was passed by a highly unusual voice vote without debate.

Ah, the “Doc Fix”. Coburn was an apologist of sorts for the idea:

“If you vote for this bill that’s on the floor today, you’re part of the problem. You’re not part of the solution,” Coburn said. “It’s a sham, it’s a lie. The pay-fors aren’t true. It’s nothing but gimmicks. It’s corruptible. There’s no integrity in what we’re getting ready to vote on.”

The only real question remaining is whether conservatives have been foolish in trying to reform the GOP in some way, and restore it to some sort of useful state. I’m very slightly biased in favor of that sentiment, but increasingly wonder if this GOP dog can still hunt at all.

Category: Health Care, Republicans

Comments

8 Responses to “Vichy GOP Skullduggery”

tahDeetz
April 6th, 2014 @ 4:01 pm

RT @smitty_one_each: Vichy GOP Skullduggery http://t.co/rVNZG9zyvF #TCOT
StrangernFiction
April 6th, 2014 @ 4:04 pm

The GOP is a statist party. This is not hard to see.
Adjoran
April 6th, 2014 @ 4:19 pm

Ninja, please!

The “doc fix” is an annual tradition. As a part of Medicare cost control, a limit on medical fees was put in place under Clinton. But it was NEVER realistic – at those rates, no physicians would be able to afford to see Medicare patients, the old people would revolt and they tend to vote.

I agree with Coburn that a permanent fix is preferable – but that has ALWAYS been true.

The ONLY unusual part about this year’s “fix” is it was a voice vote. That’s IT.

That makes it “Vichy” level “skullduggery”? Frankly, that’s just stupid.
Quartermaster
April 6th, 2014 @ 5:06 pm

You miss the point. Not surprising.
Josh_Painter
April 6th, 2014 @ 7:07 pm

RT @smitty_one_each: Vichy GOP Skullduggery http://t.co/rVNZG9zyvF #TCOT
cdefg
April 6th, 2014 @ 7:08 pm

RT @smitty_one_each: Vichy GOP Skullduggery http://t.co/rVNZG9zyvF #TCOT
smitty
April 6th, 2014 @ 8:14 pm

So, after the first assault, the follow-on sexual abuse is kosher?
NeoWayland
April 7th, 2014 @ 8:54 am

The only real question remaining is whether conservatives have been foolish in trying to reform the GOP in some way, and restore it to some sort of useful state.

You don’t have anything big enough to threaten the established officeholders except one at a time.

The two parties have been using the divide & conquer thing on the voters for decades. The only fix I see is to treat both parties as a monolithic block and get rid of everyone. “None Of The Above,” that’s the way to go.

But I might be just a tad biased.