26 hours and 33 failed amendment votes: This is Democrats' masterclass in resistance

[SunSeeker]

For a party that has been shut out of power in Washington, what happened this week in Room 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building was a masterclass in resistance.

Over more than 26 sleepless hours that began on Tuesday afternoon and continued into Wednesday, Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee pounded the panel’s Republican majority with 33 amendments, most of which were aimed at stripping the GOP’s “big, beautiful bill” containing politically toxic cuts to Medicaid. In the hallway outside, police arrested more than two dozen protesters, many of whom were in wheelchairs.

Every one of the amendments failed, as Democrats knew they would. But their coordinated assault on the centerpiece of President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda framed a powerful narrative that is shaping up to be the party’s most potent message heading into next year’s midterm elections. The marathon session laid bare the Republicans’ vulnerability on Medicaid. They claim to be rooting out waste and fraud from the system. But, in its essence, the bill amounts to a declaration of who should be deemed worthy of health care in this country.
...
Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Michigan) introduced a 6-year-old boy with Down syndrome named George, who attended with his parents. His congressman is Energy and Commerce member John James, a Republican who is running for governor in Michigan. Dingell read a letter from George’s mother, in which she had written: “Losing Medicaid would cripple our family, absolutely destroy us.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/05/15/medicaid-democrats-republicans-energy-commerce/

[wryter2000]

1. So...

I guess we aren't contemptuous of Democrats now. Or maybe someone will post "Democrats don't fight," now.

[stillcool]

2. you'd think there'd be a slew of posts about this

kind of sad.

[markodochartaigh]

7. You'd think that it would be on the msm news.

You'd think that with 78.5 million people on Medicaid and CHIP people would be talking about it in the streets.

[elocs]

16. Unusual. DU usually is contemptuous of our Democratic reps. This is kind of scary.

Perhaps it's a fiendish trick of some kind.

[Gum Logger]

24. The inside the beltway echo chamber has been a disappointment at times.

[multigraincracker]

3. James is the Amway candidate.

Betsy Devon’s supported. Amway is not my way.

[Evolve Dammit]

25. The ultimate "ponzi scheme."

[DownriverDem]

28. Betsy DeVos

John James is a trumper all the way.

[betsuni]

4. K&R

[gademocrat7]

5. Keep up the good fight!

[LiberalArkie]

6. Wear them down

[Mr.WeRP]

8. They are doing their jobs, as we need them to.

Otherwise, things are gonna get bloody fast

[TygrBright]

9. Contemporary equivalent of "have you no decency...?" moments... over and over. n/t

[LittleGirl]

13. Right because we know they have No Decency

Just a bunch of petty greedy cowards. I got mine. You get yours.

[CTyankee]

15. We ought to put that on a sign: HAVE YOU NO DECENCY, AT LONG LAST?

[MustLoveBeagles]

10. More of this please

[bee_peaceful]

11. An aquaintance suggested this is what the electorate voted for- I said no...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/05/15/medicaid-democrats-republicans-energy-commerce/

[Cha]

14. The Fucking Mump voters were Fed LIES.

I don't want to see any magat Propaganda.

[Montauk6]

26. To which I would retort (referring to said electorate)

[Cha]

12. Mahalo for this, SunSeeker! Dems! 💙🌈

I So Appreciate what they're Doing on the Front Lines of Saving our Democracy... Fighting For Americans. Against a Massive Deranged Cullt.

[bronxiteforever]

17. Kick!This made me so proud of our Congresspersons

They are fighting evil and they are the last line of defense in the House. I hope they torture that little troll Mike Johnson. And May good fortune follow George’s family. Imagine the courage to do this. I am so sorry in this land of Dow Jones and billionaires that a six year old child has to fight for basic healthcare.

.

[electric_blue68]

18. TY, sunseeker!

I think some Dems could do more.

Others, however, are doing a good to great job fighting back even being out of power as the minority party. 👍 TY, to them!

[SupportSanity]

19. It's great to see our guys taking action. nt

[Hekate]

20. Kicking for Democrats going to righteous war

[Susan Calvin]

21. About time.

Keep it up.

[SpankMe]

22. This is what I'm talking about. We need more of thiis

I'm told by detractors here, "What can Dems do? They don't have power in DC. Repubs own the house, senate, Whitehouse and important sectors of the judiciary." But, these detractors have no alternatives in mind. It's more like "wait and see what happens".

Well, the OP is what I'm talking about. Make noise. Propose legislation and actions, even if they fail, because you're going on the record - and are putting Repubs on the record. You're resisting, slowing things down, making news, wearing the opposition down.

What we have to do next is find a way to get the media to report more on this sort of thing. That's the real action needed here.

[spanone]

23. K&R

[patphil]

27. In true fascist form, the Repuiblicans are deciding that some people aren't worth keeping alive.

The attacks on Medicare, Medicaid, VA benefits, Social Security, and food programs are not being done strictly to save money, but also to eliminate people they don't see the need to support, with the hopes that many of them will just die.
I know it sounds cynical, but that's how fascists think.
If your life is not of use to them, then what is the use of helping you continue to live?
It's callous, brutal, and loveless...the new platform of the Republican Party.

[Meowmee]

29. Great 👏🏻