Trump and Ryan would not be eating crow today if they had followed what was the usual procedure. This debate should have been opened last Tuesday under an open rule. The legislative process working its will may have gotten a bill passed, possbily without the toxic Medicaid changes. The taxes on the rich could have been swapped for a more broad based value added tax which could have also funded a public option, which would have allowed the uninsured into a more subsidized pool, with insurance companies steering the most expensive patients into it so that they can lower their rates, as Trump promised.

Trade changes are vital to American workers and will be a slap in the face to neo-liberals worldwide. Most importantly, it will get rid of offending provisions that put national policy at the mercy of trade tribunals dominated by capitalists.