Holy shit, Rick Perry is the Secretary of the Department of Energy.
Really makes ya think.
Also, makes you think about the fact that Donald Trump feels the need to publicly criticize his AG for the one thing everyone agrees he did right and was legally obligated to do.
On a Trumpcare note, a few days ago the Parliamentarian ruled against a variety of sections in the Trumpcare bill, particularly those targeting Planned Parenthood but also others, as going against the rules of Budgetary Reconciliation. This was ignored at the time because we were all somewhere between "It's finally dead" and "Are they trying to pass straight repeal now?" But anyway, that meant that that would need to be amended, and would require 60 votes. Obviously, that wasn't going to happen, and lo and behold it failed on the Senate floor. But what's interesting is how far it fell short: the most comprehensive plan Republicans had to repeal Obamacare fell short,
43 for, 57 against. Republicans voting against Full Repeal and Replace (which is from the link): Collins, Cotton, Corker, Graham, Heller, Lee, Moran, Murkowski, Paul.
I've been wondering how many Republicans who were just "raising doubts" would actually, ultimately oppose that plan, and finally, we have an answer: about 17% or so, or just under a fifth of Senate Republicans. Interesting to see Heller and Moran there, and not McCain or Capito. Still, these are now the "Usual suspects" of the Republican Caucus, and I bet you'll be seeing their names more soon. Next votes coming in the next few days I think.