Rep. Thomas Massie's statement on his vote against ObamaCare II

Source: Facebook - Congressman Thomas Massie
Published: May 4, 2017
Author: Thomas Massie
Post Date: 2017-05-04 18:54:49 by Hondo68
Views: 4285

As recently as a year ago, Republicans argued that mandates were unconstitutional, bailouts were immoral, and subsidies would bankrupt our country. Today, however, the House voted for a healthcare bill that makes these objectionable measures permanent.

The former Democrat Speaker of the House was rightfully derided for imploring Members to vote for a healthcare bill to “find out what was in it.” Yet today, we voted on a healthcare bill for which the text was available only a few hours before the vote. In fact, the Congressional Budget Office had no time to even provide Congress with a preliminary estimate of the full cost of this bill.

By repealing a small number of Obamacare mandates, while leaving others in place, this bill runs the risk of destroying what remains of the individual health insurance market. The option in this bill that allows States to apply for waivers from some Obamacare mandates is well-intentioned. However, it falls far short of our promise to repeal Obamacare. There also remains the risk that State legislatures, like our federal legislature, are unable to withstand the political pressure from lobbyists who defend Obamacare, and the pressure from those who receive Obamacare’s welfare handouts.

This bill should have included measures that allow Americans to take charge of their own healthcare and get the government out of the way. These measures include allowing the deduction of health insurance costs from income taxes, giving everyone the ability to purchase insurance across state lines, and allowing individuals to band together through any organization to purchase insurance.

In weighing my vote, I heeded the wise advice that “one should not let the perfect be the enemy of the good.” If this bill becomes law, it could result in worse outcomes, fewer options, and higher prices for Kentuckians who seek health care. In summary, I voted against this bill not because it’s imperfect, but because it’s not good.


Poster Comment:

It will never pass the Senate anyway.

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#1: Tooconservative    To: hondo68 (#0)

In summary, I voted against this bill not because it’s imperfect, but because it’s not good.

I like how he turns the "perfect becoming the enemy of the good" argument around on the ninnies who bleat it out about every 5 minutes. Massey is pretty witty.

By the time pols are reciting such hoary platitudes like a flock of parrots, you know something stinks pretty bad.

Tooconservative posted on 2017-05-04 18:58:18   Reply   Private Reply


#2: BorisY    To: hondo68 (#0)

As recently as a year ago, Republicans argued that mandates were unconstitutional, bailouts were immoral, and subsidies would bankrupt our country

I don't have a problem

if our taxes are used

to help the helpless

the working poor

as long as it doesn't fund

the liberal - communist - criminal element - agenda

love
boris

BorisY posted on 2017-05-04 20:25:34   Reply   Private Reply


#3: Hondo68    To: BorisY, suicidal liberal bleeding heart (#2)

I don't have a problem if our taxes are used to help the helpless the working poor

Trump's antifa, DACA dream students, and Muslim refugees will be in the best of health when they behead you.

Enjoy the experience of seeing your tax dollars at work, up close and personal!

Hondo68 posted on 2017-05-04 21:35:32   Reply   Private Reply


#4: Gatlin    To: Tooconservative (#1)

Massey is pretty witty.

The House overwhelmingly voted Thursday to impose new sanctions on North Korea amid heightened tensions over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

The vote, 419-1, targets North Korea’s shipping industry and use of slave labor.

Thomas Massie, R-Ky., was the sole member to vote against the measure.

Gatlin posted on 2017-05-04 22:01:21   Reply   Private Reply


#5: Tooconservative    To: Gatlin (#4)

Thomas Massie, R-Ky., was the sole member to vote against the measure.
Unanimous votes in a legislature is the hallmark of dictatorships. Like, oh, North Korea. Or Soviet Russia. Or China. Etc.

Even in declaring war on Japan on 12/8/41, there was a lone no vote (as I recall, the first woman congresscritter).

The vote was 82 – 0 in the Senate and 388 – 1 in the House. Jeannette Rankin, a pacifist and the first woman elected to Congress (in 1916), cast the only vote against the declaration, eliciting hisses from some of her peers. Several colleagues requested she change her vote to make the resolution unanimous—or at least to abstain—but she refused.[6][7] "As a woman, I can't go to war," she said, "and I refuse to send anyone else." Nine other women held Congressional seats at the time. After the vote, an angry mob followed her from the Capitol building, forcing her to take refuge in a telephone booth until United States Capitol Police could rescue her. Two days later a similar war declaration against Germany and Italy came to vote; Rankin abstained. Nine other women voted in favor of the declaration of war.
Obviously, she was a commie libertarian of some kind. Maybe you would be happy if Massie was being similarly chased around the Capitol by an angry mob.

Massie's positions don't seem to lead him toward a Senate seat (to replace McConnell if he retires). But his district is solid with him so he's still not going anywhere.

Massie could be there in 20-30 years from now. He's that kind of congresscritter, like Dingell in MI or Ron Paul in his district (before they gerrymandered him out of office finally) or Walter Jones Jr. The establishment may be able to keep them from advancing to committee chairmanships or to higher office but they can't easily dislodge them from their House seat either.

Tooconservative posted on 2017-05-04 22:08:16   Reply   Private Reply


#6: Stoner    To: Gatlin (#4)

" The vote, 419-1, targets North Korea’s shipping industry and use of slave labor.

Thomas Massie, R-Ky., was the sole member to vote against the measure. "

What was his reasoning for voting no ?

Stoner posted on 2017-05-04 22:35:24   Reply   Private Reply


#7: paraclete    To: hondo68 (#0)

It will never pass the Senate anyway.

one should never say never, there are ways and there are means, and of course there is compromise and the art of the deal. Compromise is something that american politicians are short on but perhaps Dump can teach

paraclete posted on 2017-05-05 03:55:43   Reply   Private Reply