House Speaker Paul Ryan‘s (R-Wisc.) entire legislative career has largely been focused on accomplishing two goals: tax reform and entitlement reform.
Today, the House passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act by a 227 to 203 margin, and no one was happier than Paul Ryan in that moment.
.@SpeakerRyan, living his best life: pic.twitter.com/iTnZX6Vzcb
— Brenna Williams (@brennawilliams) December 19, 2017
While Republicans are enthusiastic in their belief that the tax cuts—especially the drastic cut in the corporate rate—will kickstart the economy, many on the left have a fatalistic view of this bill.
Which is why Ryan’s enthusiasm was so cutting—and why people were swift to react on Twitter.
If your best life is swapping your sense of decency for a corporate tax cut, sure, I guess https://t.co/5kXsuMCwfo
— Bill Scher (@billscher) December 19, 2017
we're fucked https://t.co/nvafO5qwkQ
— Kelly Ann (@Bookolic77) December 19, 2017
Peak evil. https://t.co/psjiMVyaBo
— Chase Strangio (@chasestrangio) December 19, 2017
Celebrating making the rich richer and putting more burdens on those struggling with medical problems. Totally perfect for Christmas time. Can’t wait for his smug face to be voted out. https://t.co/WlSIswthG2
— Jennifer Barton☮️ (@jenbartva) December 19, 2017
https://twitter.com/StelliniTweets/status/943208264296169473
Of course, and you may not have noticed this on first watch, Ryan slams his gavel and then it… falls off a cliff.
https://twitter.com/ShaunaRDeBono/status/943214404375519233
Oops. House Speaker Paul Ryan's gavel falls off the podium after tax bill vote #TaxCutsandJobsAct https://t.co/KywSWj0LkW pic.twitter.com/Qn1dJgj9jl
— WVTM 13 (@WVTM13) December 19, 2017
Here’s another angle.
Speaker Ryan enthusiastically slams the gavel to mark the House passage of the GOP tax bill. https://t.co/EvZhYrS7nq pic.twitter.com/k4SVGvF2Lw
— NBC News (@NBCNews) December 19, 2017
If that’s an appropriate metaphor for this bill, only time will tell.