GOP Makes Attempt No. 37 to Repeal ObamaCare

You've got to give the GOP credit for its sheer tenacity: This week will mark the 37th time House Republicans have tried to repeal ObamaCare. And, likely, the 37th time they will fail, reports the New York Times. And there are at least another 15 additional Republican bills attempting to reduce or rescind ObamaCare pending in Congress. Since Republicans took over the House in 2011, they have spent 15% of their time trying to take down the law, the Times calculates. And that amounts to the second-least productive House in recent memory. “There’s very little legislating going on the House floor," says one political science professor.

Still, "given that the bill amounts to a takeover of roughly 15% of the American economy, (15%) sounds about right," says a spokesperson for John Boehner, who also points out that this is only the third time it has voted on a full repeal—others have been to repeal or defund smaller parts of ObamaCare. And as much as liberals might be mocking these failed attempts, they do assuage the far-right side of Boehner's caucus. “It’s something that we wanted to move up on the list of priorities,” says one rep. “And I’m glad they listened to us.” (More ObamaCare stories.)