Paul Krugman is a Nobel Prize winning economist, so when he expresses an opinion on, say, a controversial tax bill, people listen.
While he’s been predictably opposed to the Republican monstrosity making its way over the final legislative hurdles standing between it and the president’s desk, he fired-off a tweet Tuesday that shocked economists and non-economists alike.
The professor and prolific author set his sights not on tax policy or a particular provision of the bill, but on a particular senator who’s completely an amazing turn of character in just a matter of weeks.
Republican Susan Collins of Maine defied her party and President Trump’s bullying to help block the Republican attempt to repeal ObamaCare. Without her and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Republicans would have stripped health coverage for 20 million Americans.
And so when Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) inserted a repeal of the individual mandate – a key part of ObamaCare – into their already unpopular tax bill, many expected Sen. Collins to oppose it.
Not so much, apparently. Paul Krugman expressed the frustration and disappointment in Sen Collins felt by millions of Americans today with one scathing tweet:
What I really don't understand here is Susan Collins. She came out of health care a hero. Now she is, rightly, seen as a fool, a tool, or both. And she can never get it back. What could possibly justify that choice?
— Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) December 20, 2017
The Senate is set to vote on the final version of the tax bill late Tuesday or early Wednesday morning. Barring some 11th hour drama, it will become law by Thursday, and the destruction of the middle class will commence in 2018.
Senator Collins’ reputation as a sensible moderate willing to put country above party, however, is already destroyed.
