Lisa Murkowski: enemy of the people
The anger towards Lisa Murkowski is justified. She gave the big ugly bill the final vote it needed to pass; indeed, she is the reason it passed. Had she voted with Paul, Collins, and Tillis, there would have been no tie for JD Vance to break. As soon as she voted “yes” and allowed this bill to go back to the House, she began “explaining” her vote. Newsflash, Lisa: had you voted the right way, there would be no need to explain. Every time people’s healthcare and food assistance are taken away, Murkowski needs to own it.
Murkowski’s attempts to “pass the buck” backfired spectacularly. Her self-serving comment to reporters was pathetic: “My hope is that the House is gonna look at this and recognize that we’re not there yet.” Well, if you thought that, why did you vote “yes?” Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez gave Murkowski the best response: “This isn’t about you. This is about the 17 million Americans whose health insurance you’re taking away. And after you turned your back on them to vote ‘YES,’ you said your fellow House GOP should vote NO.” Ocasio-Cortez is spot on. Even Republicans who voted against the bill have no use for Lisa Murkowski. Ask Rand Paul, who called her vote “a bailout for Alaska at the expense of the rest of the country.”
The Congressional Budget Office predicts that 11.8 million Americans will be uninsured by 2034. The bill contains nothing of value unless you’re rich. Everything else is designed to harm the middle and lower classes, which is what Republicans do. Newsweek shared quotes, and the quotes from some Republican Senators are downright ridiculous. McConnell claimed that the bill “ … gives working families and small businesses relief from the Biden economy.” Lies, all lies. McConnell’s most telling comment was: “I know a lot of us are hearing from people back home about Medicaid. But they’ll get over it.” Get over it? This is who the fine people of Kentucky sent to the senate year after year. His thanks to them is telling them to “get over it.” His office, of course, claims that he was referring to the “abuse,” that people should be working, and “protecting our rural hospitals.” This bill does none of that. There is no waste and abuse in Medicaid, and for the one millionth time, 16.6 million of Medicaid recipients do work. They must want them to work two jobs instead of one while they all sit with their fat cat friends, smoking cigars and enjoying yet another tax cut that they don’t need or deserve.
This is what Republican voters asked for, and they’re getting it. We’ll see how many of them like it once their benefits are terminated. They can thank Lisa Murkowski for pushing this legislation over the finish line. Murkowski should be hanging her head in shame. She had the nerve to criticize the bill immediately after voting “yes.” She only did it because they bribed her with a carve out for Alaska, but this bill is much larger than Alaska. Congratulations, Murkowski. History will not be kind to you.
Shirley is a former entertainment writer and has worked in the legal field for over 25 years