Ryan: GOP learned from health-care failure in passing tax overhaul

Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said in a new interview that House Republicans “learned lessons” from their failed attempts earlier this year to repeal and replace ObamaCare and applied those lessons to the GOP’s tax overhaul push.

“We learned lessons from health care, no two ways about it. No. 1, get the conservative movement on board. No. 2, when we go, make sure the Senate is ready to go with us,” the speaker told The Associated Press.

“That’s why we decided to negotiate the basic outlines of this plan ahead of time.” 

{mosads}The House on Tuesday voted to pass the Republican tax bill, while the Senate passed the bill early Wednesday morning.

The lower chamber, however, must vote again on the bill Wednesday because the Senate parliamentarian found that two provisions in the House legislation don’t comply with the budget rules for the reconciliation process, which prevents a Democratic filibuster.

The bill, which is expected to head to President Trump’s desk before Christmas, would provide the GOP and the Trump administration with a major legislative win after repeated failed attempts at health-care legislation. 

“It’s an easier issue because we all are more or less wired the same,” Ryan told the AP of taxes, comparing the issue to health care.

“We are more or less agreed on how to do it. We did not necessarily have that on health care,” he said.