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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums26 hours and 33 failed amendment votes: This is Democrats' masterclass in resistance
For a party that has been shut out of power in Washington, what happened this week in Room 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building was a masterclass in resistance.
Over more than 26 sleepless hours that began on Tuesday afternoon and continued into Wednesday, Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee pounded the panels Republican majority with 33 amendments, most of which were aimed at stripping the GOPs big, beautiful bill containing politically toxic cuts to Medicaid. In the hallway outside, police arrested more than two dozen protesters, many of whom were in wheelchairs.
Every one of the amendments failed, as Democrats knew they would. But their coordinated assault on the centerpiece of President Donald Trumps legislative agenda framed a powerful narrative that is shaping up to be the partys most potent message heading into next years midterm elections. The marathon session laid bare the Republicans vulnerability on Medicaid. They claim to be rooting out waste and fraud from the system. But, in its essence, the bill amounts to a declaration of who should be deemed worthy of health care in this country.
...
Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Michigan) introduced a 6-year-old boy with Down syndrome named George, who attended with his parents. His congressman is Energy and Commerce member John James, a Republican who is running for governor in Michigan. Dingell read a letter from Georges mother, in which she had written: Losing Medicaid would cripple our family, absolutely destroy us.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/05/15/medicaid-democrats-republicans-energy-commerce/

wryter2000
(47,905 posts)I guess we aren't contemptuous of Democrats now. Or maybe someone will post "Democrats don't fight," now.
stillcool
(34,382 posts)kind of sad.
markodochartaigh
(3,272 posts)You'd think that with 78.5 million people on Medicaid and CHIP people would be talking about it in the streets.
elocs
(24,486 posts)Perhaps it's a fiendish trick of some kind.
Gum Logger
(140 posts)
multigraincracker
(35,966 posts)Betsy Devons supported. Amway is not my way.
Evolve Dammit
(20,981 posts)DownriverDem
(6,863 posts)John James is a trumper all the way.
gademocrat7
(11,544 posts)LiberalArkie
(18,544 posts)Mr.WeRP
(842 posts)Otherwise, things are gonna get bloody fast
TygrBright
(21,159 posts)LittleGirl
(8,799 posts)Just a bunch of petty greedy cowards. I got mine. You get yours.
CTyankee
(66,506 posts)MustLoveBeagles
(13,436 posts)
bee_peaceful
(84 posts)Cha
(312,754 posts)I don't want to see any magat Propaganda.
Montauk6
(9,161 posts)Cha
(312,754 posts)I So Appreciate what they're Doing on the Front Lines of Saving our Democracy... Fighting For Americans. Against a Massive Deranged Cullt.
bronxiteforever
(10,590 posts)They are fighting evil and they are the last line of defense in the House. I hope they torture that little troll Mike Johnson. And May good fortune follow Georges family. Imagine the courage to do this. I am so sorry in this land of Dow Jones and billionaires that a six year old child has to fight for basic healthcare.
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electric_blue68
(22,207 posts)I think some Dems could do more.
Others, however, are doing a good to great job fighting back even being out of power as the minority party. 👍 TY, to them!
SupportSanity
(1,482 posts)Hekate
(98,452 posts)Susan Calvin
(2,314 posts)Keep it up.
SpankMe
(3,520 posts)I'm told by detractors here, "What can Dems do? They don't have power in DC. Repubs own the house, senate, Whitehouse and important sectors of the judiciary." But, these detractors have no alternatives in mind. It's more like "wait and see what happens".
Well, the OP is what I'm talking about. Make noise. Propose legislation and actions, even if they fail, because you're going on the record - and are putting Repubs on the record. You're resisting, slowing things down, making news, wearing the opposition down.
What we have to do next is find a way to get the media to report more on this sort of thing. That's the real action needed here.
spanone
(139,546 posts)patphil
(8,063 posts)The attacks on Medicare, Medicaid, VA benefits, Social Security, and food programs are not being done strictly to save money, but also to eliminate people they don't see the need to support, with the hopes that many of them will just die.
I know it sounds cynical, but that's how fascists think.
If your life is not of use to them, then what is the use of helping you continue to live?
It's callous, brutal, and loveless...the new platform of the Republican Party.