THE HOUSE OF HEALTH-CARE NINCOMPOOPS

The GOP led House of Representatives has proudly achieved a historic legislative record.

A record in futility, that is. Also in absurdiosity. In February, for the 56th time, they focused the entire array of brain cells in their 245-member majority on an effort that would directly harm millions of Americans, namely the repeal of Obamacare. Yes, the Nincompoop Caucus has now wasted Congress’ time and credibility by voting not once, not 10 or 20 times, but 56 times to take away even the minimal level of health coverage for previously-uninsured people.

But wait… it’s possible that I misstated that number. It seems that House Speaker John Boehner’s team has been so overcome by its passion for eliminating health care that they lost track of how deeply they’ve disappeared into the woods of right-wing fantasyland. A recount reveals that instead of taking 56 wild potshots at the program, they’ve actually held 67 votes on it.

Meanwhile, the Obamacare program that the Boehner Bunch is working so feverishly to kill (even though it’s modeled directly on programs previously introduced by such Republican stalwarts as Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich), turns out to be working better than anyone – even its proponents – thought it would. And, to the tooth-grinding dismay of the kill-Obamacare crowd, Americans like it! Naysaying congress critters had scoffed from the start that no one would buy into the program, but on the deadline day for this year’s sign-up (which came only two weeks after the House’s 67th vote for repeal) a record number of people joined. That means 11.5 million Americans who had no coverage before Obamacare, now do.

Did I mention that the lawmakers who’re trying so furiously to eliminate coverage for those people, enjoy government-paid coverage for themselves?

“An Ode to Obamacare,” The New York Times, February 12, 2015.

“Congressional Profile,” www.clerk.house.gov, February 2015.