SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES

This is the week Todd Herman registers as Independent

Mar 8, 2017, 6:14 PM

Independent, paul ryan...

House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis. speaks during a news conference at the Republican National Committee Headquarters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 8, 2017, as the GOP works on its long-awaited plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

The GOP “health care” plan is not a health care plan. And it’s inspired me to register as Independent.

It is a welfare expanding, IRS empowering, big donor kissing, freedom destroying, free market ignoring, monstrosity of a cluster something.

Related: Get ready for a world without truth

This would only make sense in Washington D.C. In every other industry, competition is allowed to come and disrupt.

President Trump says he’s proud to support the replacement plan. But I don’t understand why he’s proud of it. This has nothing to do with the free market. And this won’t cut anyone’s costs.

This is a $100 billion dollars borrowed in your name and given back to you.

They are blowing up the individual market. The exchanges and the subsidies are tailor made to big companies. And this blocks start-ups. It’s a massive shell game. It makes the problems of Obamacare worse because they remove the employer mandate.

This is disastrous in all regards. This is the week I become a registered Independent. This is the week professional Republicans in Washington D.C. are dead to me.

As always, please listen to the full audio clip for complete context.

A sign is displayed for Peace Bridge Place apartments that have Viridi's lithium-ion battery energy...

Associated Press

Can larger batteries safely power residential buildings? A project in New York aims to show how

A battery system installed in a Buffalo, New York, apartment building will store excess energy when it’s plentiful and power the building when the grid is strained and electricity is costly. The manufacturer and state officials hope it will show that larger batteries can safely operate where people live and work. The 3.75 megawatt-hour lithium-ion […]

4 minutes ago

FILE - The smartphone apps DeepSeek page is seen on a smartphone screen in Beijing, Jan. 28, 2025. ...

Associated Press

China defends DeepSeek after US ban of its AI from government systems

HONG KONG (AP) — China hit back Tuesday at a U.S. ban on Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek’s products for federal civilian agencies, highlighting friction in the two AI powers’ heated technology race. The agencies should remove DeepSeek and its affiliated products, as well as third party products and services developed using DeepSeek, from their […]

1 hour ago

Supporters wait for results at the pro-Canada watch party in Edmonton, Alberta Monday, Oct. 19, 202...

Associated Press

Canada awaits Alberta referendum results after Carney urges voters to reject separation

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Canada awaited results Tuesday from a referendum that could put oil-rich Alberta on a path toward independence, testing Prime Minister Mark Carney’s push for unity amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war and annexation threats. Results were delayed after late openings forced more than 100 polling stations to extend voting hours […]

7 hours ago

FILE - Law enforcement vehicles sit parked outside the Florida state prison in Starke, Fla., on Tue...

Associated Press

Florida is set to carry out 18th execution this year and moving closer to tying record

MIAMI (AP) — Florida is set Tuesday to carry out its 18th execution of the year under Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis ’ aggressive use of the death penalty in his final term. William Reaves, 77, was sentenced to death after being convicted of first-degree murder for the 1986 shooting of Indian River County Deputy Richard […]

7 hours ago

President Donald Trump arrives at a campaign rally at Heartland Credit Union Arena, Monday, Oct. 19...

Associated Press

Gimmick or giveback? Even some Trump supporters don’t expect to get $5,000 checks after midterms

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is hoping that $5,000 checks can juice Republican turnout in November’s midterm elections — but even some of his devoted fans are doubting that government payouts would arrive. “I mean, I guess it’s good for some people. I really don’t care,” said Jamie Alvarez, who attended Trump’s recent Alaska […]

7 hours ago

no kings seattle protest...

James Lynch

Seattle police report no major incidents at No Kings rally

Seattle police are calling Saturday’s No Kings rally and march a success, reporting no arrests, property damage, or issues involving participants.

9 hours ago

This is the week Todd Herman registers as Independent