Brad DeLong on the election returns

And, of course, in 2016 three million more voters cast their votes for Democratic than for Republican Senate candidates. And the 2018 House vote went Democratic by 9.2 percentage point:: FiveThirtyEight: Significant Digits For Wednesday, November 7, 2018l: "Voters cast 44.7 million votes for Democratic Senate candidates and 32.9 million votes for Republican Senate candidates... 57 percent of Senate votes went for Democrats...

Another reason that America is a republic rather than a democracy, with "democracy" being defined as majority rule.

This is not necessarily a bad thing from the liberal point of view, however. Liberalism addressed human rights in terms of both individuals and minorities in order to avoid the tyranny of the majority.

Grasping Reality

And, of course, in 2016 three million more voters cast their votes for Democratic than for Republican Senate candidates...

Brad DeLong | Professor of Economics, UCAL Berkeley

Reuters/Ipsos poll — Fewer than a third of Americans back Trump tax plan

As the 2018 midterm congressional election campaigns grow nearer, the poll found that more than two-thirds of registered voters said reducing the U.S. federal budget deficit is more important than cutting taxes for the wealthy or for corporations.

Trump’s plan would balloon the deficit and add to the $20 trillion national debt, according to critics and independent analysts, but Republicans say the tax cuts proposed in the plan would be offset by economic growth that would generate new tax revenue.

Among Republicans surveyed, 63 percent said deficit reduction should take priority over tax cuts for corporations, while 75 percent said deficit reduction should take priority over tax cuts for the wealthy.

Deficit hysteria and debt phobia is popular in the US.

Reuters
Fewer than a third of Americans back Trump tax plan: Reuters/Ipsos poll
Amanda Becker and Chris Kahn

Nate Silver — The Health Care Bill Could Be A Job-Killer For GOP Incumbents

If this passes the Senate, the GOP is married to it, for better or for worse, just like the GOP is now married to President Trump.

Five Thirty Eight
The Health Care Bill Could Be A Job-Killer For GOP Incumbents

Nate Silver

Also

Democrats have a sharp message for Republicans crowing over Thursday’s House vote to dismantle ObamaCare: The healthcare system is now yours.

“Whether they voted for it or not, Republicans own TrumpCare now,” Rep. Linda Sanchez (Calif.), the vice chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, said moments after the vote.

“They put their name next to your paying more for less,” echoed House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). “And we’ll make sure that the public is aware of that.”...

Trump and Ryan seem to be the early targets of the Democratic rebranding effort.

“They’re going to own it –– absolutely. And as we move forward, everything here is either RyanCare or TrumpCare. Or RyanTrumpCare,” Connolly said.

“They’re going to own it,” he repeated.

The Hill
Dems warn GOP: Now you own healthcare

Mike Lillis

The Republican plan to repeal and replace the the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which narrowly passed a vote in the House today, rolls back protections for people with pre-existing conditions, which could increase health care costs for an estimated 130 million Americans.

The American Health Care Act stipulates that states can allow insurers to charge people with pre-existing conditions more for health insurance (which is banned under the ACA) if the states meet certain conditions, such as setting up high-risk insurance pools. Insurers still cannot deny people coverage outright, as was a common practice before the ACA's passage, but they can hike up premiums to an unaffordable amount, effectively pricing people out of the market.

Fortune
50 Health Issues That Count as a Pre-existing Condition
Alicia Adamczyk

The Senate not biting?

The House passed the American Health Care Act in a 217 to 213 vote, sending the bill to the upper chamber. Yet, Senate leadership has acknowledged the legislation will need to change in the chamber in order to get enough of its members on board.

“We can’t be for half a dozen different proposals; we have to be for a proposal for us to get 51 votes in the Senate,” Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) told The Hill an hour before the House vote.

“We’ll start with the House bill, but we’ll need to work with every member of the Senate conference to see what they need to get to yes.”

Likely changes could focus on Medicaid and adding increased financial assistance, in the form of tax credits, to help low-income Americans afford health insurance.

It’s possible the Senate could run into the same problem the House toiled over for almost two months. Move the bill to right, and moderates will defect. Move the bill to the center, and the measure will lose conservative votes.

A big difference between the House and Senate is that many congressional districts are safe for incumbents owing to gerrymandering, while senators have to stand for general election by the entire state, putting their odds in greater play.

The Hill

GOP senators: We're doing our own healthcare bill
Rachel Roubein