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U.S. NEWS Thursday 9 November 2017
Gleeful Democrats see political wave; GOP says not so fast

Continued from Front terview.
Republican Party leaders
“If anything, this just puts also expect their political
more pressure on making outlook to improve dra-
sure we follow through,” matically once the GOP-
House Speaker Paul Ryan led Congress takes action
said at an event hosted by on taxes or health care.
the Washington Examiner. Based on Tuesday’s results,
He added, “I think it simply they need to act quickly.
means we’ve got to de- Governors’ races in Virginia
liver.” and New Jersey — where
Whether the president’s Phil Murphy will replace
party delivers or not, there Republican Chris Christie
is clear cause for concern — were perhaps the most
for a Republican Party that consequential, but Demo-
would lose its House major- crats also celebrated victo-
ity if Democrats gained 24 ries in Maine, where voters
seats next fall. slapped the state’s Repub-
Tuesday’s results left little lican governor, a Trump
doubt that Trump’s dismal ally, by backing a mea-
approval ratings can drag sure to expand Medicaid
down Republican allies, coverage under Obama’s
particularly those serving in health care law. Man-
states he lost last Novem- Danica Roem, center, who ran for house of delegates against GOP incumbent Robert Marshall, chester, New Hampshire,
is greeted by supporters as she prepares to give her victory speech with Prince William County
ber. And even if his ratings Democratic Committee at Water’s End Brewery on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, in Manassas, Va. Roem elected its first Democratic
show signs of improvement, will be the first openly transgender person elected and seated in a state legislature in the United mayor in more than a de-
history suggests that the first States. cade. And Virginia voters
midterm elections for any (Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post via AP) sent a large and diverse
new president often lead out.” state in recent weeks. races, thanks in large part group of new Democrats to
to major gains for the op- Trump declared that the Republican National Com- to GOP routs during Barack the statehouse, including a
posing party. blame for Tuesday’s losses mittee Chair Ronna Rom- Obama’s eight years in transgender heavy metal
An early string of Republi- was not his. ney McDaniel had a differ- office. Also, Democrats singer, a member of Demo-
can retirement announce- “Ed Gillespie worked hard ent view from Trump’s. wrestle with their own par- cratic Socialists of America
ments in competitive dis- but did not embrace me or “I absolutely think any can- ty strife, pitting the Bernie and a former news anchor
tricts across Florida, New what I stand for,” the presi- didate should be embrac- Sanders’ wing against the whose journalist girlfriend
Jersey and Arizona adds to dent tweeted as he toured ing the president,” she said, more mainstream. was fatally shot while on-
the GOP’s challenge. Asia. Actually, Gillespie, a “and I think Ed did.” The liberal group Democra- air in 2015. The results were
“We’re taking our country mainstream Republican As for Tuesday’s longer- cy for America had aban- particularly troubling for Re-
back from Donald Trump who lost the Virginia gov- term significance for the doned Virginia’s guber- publicans serving in subur-
one election at a time,” ernor’s race, had taken Democrats, both parties’ natorial candidate, Ralph ban districts in states Trump
Democratic National Com- up Trump-like positions on leaders know that much Northam, over immigration lost last fall.
mittee Chairman Tom Per- such issues as Confederate can change in the year policy, then celebrated his Schumer singled out by
ez said in a Wednesday monuments, NFL players’ before voters decide the win days later. “The plus name one of the most vul-
conference call. “This is not national anthem demon- 2018 midterm elections. of a tidal wave like this is it nerable House Republicans
just one night. It is a trend.” strations and the dangers And Republicans enjoy a washes away the stains of in the nation: Rep. Barbara
Added Schumer, the New of Hispanic gangs. Trump redistricting advantage all the campaigns,” Charles Comstock, whose northern
York Democrat: “Our Re- endorsed him but was not that limits the number of Chamberlain, DFA’s execu- Virginia district lies just west
publican friends better look invited to campaign in the truly competitive House tive director, said in an in- of Washington. q

Ryan: Election losses pressure GOP to deliver on taxes

By MARCY GORDON amendments and reject- not covered by insurance
ERICA WERNER ing Democrats’ efforts to is especially controversial.
Associated Press revise the bill. Republicans The deduction has helped
WASHINGTON (AP) — are determined to pro- offset costs of such things
House Speaker Paul Ryan duce tax cuts and send a as nursing home care, la-
said the Republican drub- measure to President Don- ser eye surgery and out-of-
bing in Tuesday night’s ald Trump by Christmas to state travel for a second
elections “just puts more protect their congressio- opinion on a rare cancer.
pressure on making sure nal majorities in next year’s Ryan, speaking at an event
we follow through” on the elections. The committee held by the Washington Ex-
party’s drive to overhaul voted along party lines aminer newspaper, said,
the tax code. against a battery of Demo- “We’ve got to get on with
Ryan’s comments Wednes- cratic proposals to restore keeping our promise, and
day came as the House to the bill tax benefits to one of the chief promises
Ways and Means Commit- student borrowers, people we made when we ran for
tee entered its third day with significant medical ex- Seated behind a stack of IRS and tax volumes, Rep. Tom Reed, office ... in 2016 was that
R-N.Y., left, joined by Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., appeals to his
of debate on the nearly penses, homeowners and Democratic opposition during debate on amendments to the we would do tax reform
$6 trillion legislation, with teachers. The proposed House Republican tax reform plan, on Capitol Hill in Washington, and tax cuts for families, for
the Republican-led panel elimination of the deduc- Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017. people, and so we’ve got
wading through dozens of tion for medical expenses (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) to get on with that.”q