Pirate's Cove

Really? Approval?

Democrats say they need leadership green light to back GOP bills to extend ACA tax credits

House Democrats say they’re lining up to support a bipartisan extension of enhanced ObamaCare subsidies — if they get a green light from party leaders.

Supporters of two bipartisan proposals to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits, which are set to expire on Dec. 31, have launched discharge petitions to force votes on their legislation over the opposition of the GOP leaders who control the chamber.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) has declined to weigh in on either of the proposals, which would extend the subsidies for one or two years, pressing instead for his partisan plan to extend those benefits for three years. His strategy has been for Democrats to keep their powder dry and let Republican infighting on health care take center stage.

But a growing number of rank-and-file Democrats say they expect that to change next week if it becomes clear that none of the partisan plans — Republican or Democratic — have the support to move to the Senate.

See, here’s the thing to my mind: this is horrendous politics, and not just for Democrats. This is NOT the way it should work. Every single member of the House of Representatives should be thinking one thing: “Is this good for the people in my district? The people who live there and voted for me.” Same with Senators and their states. No one should have to have a green light to vote what is best for the people who voted for them. Say what you will about the nutcases and Islamists in The Squad, they often vote for what the nutcases and Islamists in their districts want, not what Dem leadership wants. There’s way to much national party unity driven from the top down and not enough consideration of the voters in their districts. Say what you will about Republicans like Marjorie Taylor Green, they think about their districts (and, like Squad Dems, themselves. Hey, they’re politicians) and how to help the people there.

It’s not new, but, it continues to worsen. It makes discussion impossible in so many cases. Senators and Representatives further vote in the interest of the big money interests which typically reside outside their districts/states. You know what? Bring back earmarks. At least then Congress Critters would be bringing the bacon back to their own districts/states. They’d have a vested interest in them.