NOT A SHINING HOUR – AT 9:32 A.M. ET:   No party for decades has had the chance the Republican Party has now.  Its Democratic opposition is at its weakest point in almost a hundred years.  Republicans control the White House, the the US Senate, the House, most state legislatures, and most governorships. 

And yet, it has yet to show this year that it is a governing party, at least in Washington.  It is attempting to make good on its promise to repeal and replace Obamacare, but failed in its first effort.  Now it is trying again, and failure may once again be the result.   Grade of D.  From The Hill:

Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) said early Wednesday that he thinks the GOP healthcare proposal is still a few votes short of the number needed to pass.

During an interview on CNN's "New Day," King, who is undecided on the healthcare measure, was asked if he thinks there will be a vote on healthcare this week.

In response, King said he thinks that's a "complete toss of the coin."

"I think they're holding four to six votes short of what they need to go on the floor," he said.

"And I don't know how soft some of those votes that are sitting on the balance are, but that's my prediction. It's just going to be a toss of the coin on whether they will or whether they won't."

King said during the interview he moved his whip announcement last week to "undecided."

"It's a result of these negotiations that have to do with the essential health benefits that throws us back into the lap of the 50 states for them to fight over what they want to do," he said.

COMMENT:   It is absurd that the GOP, which has had six or more years to come up with a replacement for Obamacare, hasn't done so in a way that can guarantee passage in the House.  And then there's the Senate, where Republicans only have a slim majority.

If the Obamacare replacement fails this week, the Republicans should immediately go onto tax reform, which would have to include a meaningful tax cut.  If they can't get that done, they'll be in serious trouble in the 2018 midterms.

May 3, 2017