Not so, Bev and Jerry.

If it had passed easily and openly, you would have been correct: the cost would not have mattered.

The very fact that the Republican leadership had to resort to such elaborate measures to pass this bill shows that the bill barely, barely passed, and that it would not have passed unless all these measures were taken, including hiding the true cost.

Several lawmakers who voted yes, on both sides of aisle, now say they would have voted no had they known the true cost. If they are telling the truth then the bill would have died.