Iowa Congressman Faces Pressure From Donors, Backlash From GOP for Not Backing Health Bill

[question everything]

(no, not Steve King..)

WASHINGTON—Iowa Rep. David Young twice ran for Congress promising to do whatever he could to repeal the Affordable Care Act. This week, he had planned to vote against a bill to replace it, and thus keep Obamacare the law of the land.

Mr. Young and a host of other congressional Republicans who represent mostly suburban, competitive House districts refused to support a GOP leadership’s alternative to the ACA after facing pressure from donors and the threat of a ballot-box backlash from Democrats gunning for their seats.

(snip)

Democrats need to take a net of 23 seats to regain control of the House. Currently, there are 23 seats held by Republicans in districts won by Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton in last year’s election. Mr. Young’s district went for Mr. Trump, but it is divided nearly equally between Democrats and Republicans and officials in both parties consider it one of the most competitive in the 2018 cycle Mr. Young’s careful political calculations still may not work. Seven years ago, the same strategy didn’t work for anti-Obamacare Democrats. Of the 34 Democrats who voted against the Affordable Care Act, 30 were gone from Congress two elections later.

(snip)

In Iowa, Mr. Young faced pressure from Democrats and both sides of his party. GOP donors such as Gary Kirke, a local casino magnate who was Iowa finance chairman for Mr. Trump’s campaign, urged a no vote because the GOP proposal wasn’t conservative enough. Democrats packed a town-hall meeting and jammed phone lines at Mr. Young’s offices.

(snip)

On Friday Mr. Young called the decision to yank the bill of the House calendar before it was about to go down in defeat a “bold move” in a statement that reiterated his position that Obamacare is “a failed law that does not work.” But by then Mr. Young had lost key GOP establishment support. A super PAC controlled by House Speaker Paul Ryan and GOP leadership said Thursday it would no longer support his re-election bid.

More..

https://www.wsj.com/articles/iowa-congressman-faces-pressure-from-donors-backlash-from-gop-for-not-backing-health-bill-1490439603

[Tatiana]

1. This seat is ripe for the picking.

Are there any young, rising Democrats in Iowa that can compete in this CD?

[Cha]

2. What a revolting development you found

yourself in, eh Young?

[exboyfil]

3. My Congressman Rod Blum is in the same situation

Seat was held by Braley a Democrat for eight years. As far as I can tell Blum might as well be a cardboard cutout.

[Skidmore]

4. I want Blum gone so much.

I'm in Iowa County. What part of the district are you in?

[exboyfil]

5. Blackhawk County

Rep. Braley's sister in law was my girls' elementary teacher. He is the politician with which I interacted the most. He was a rationale thoughtful man, and I miss his representation (even though he ran a horrible campaign against Ernst). I was actually a Republican when I first met Braley. He had these budget exercises were we went through work sheets and made recommendations. I thought it was a very effective teaching tool.

Blum on the other hand might as well be a pod person.