Everyone loves a good heist film. Ocean's 11. Sneakers. The Great Muppet Caper. Some More Recent Film.
Washington, D.C. generally doesn't afford itself the levity for a ol' fashioned, feel-good caper. It's got too much to be serious about, such as making sure the country is running.
But every once in awhile, fates line up for D.C. to take one big collective laugh. That happened on Thursday when Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) went to Twitter to drop the hottest Easter Egg hunt for health wonks:
I have been told that the House Obamacare bill is under lock & key, in a secure location, & not available for me or the public to view.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) March 2, 2017
Paul was looking to make a serious point about transparency, and while healthcare reform is an important topic with implications for many, Twitter offered a platform for some levity in what turned into a literal search for the secret bill.
The words "GOP," "ACA," "replacement" and "plan" – especially in that order – are like cat nip for healthcare journalists and Twitter jokesters and pundits alike so naturally, the race was on! Luckily in these overly-connected times, many posted snapshots into their search for the document:
police guarding the (staff-only) draft Obamacare bill! https://t.co/D5XirCfzPq
— Sarah Ferris (@sarahnferris) March 2, 2017
Press was just let in H-157. Empty room, no bill in sight :( pic.twitter.com/0d25hwcUG6
— Sarah Kliff (@sarahkliff) March 2, 2017
Some Democrats even reached across the aisle.
Just helping out @RandPaul. #ReleaseTheHounds #WheresTheBill pic.twitter.com/LrooyMFWA0
— Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) March 2, 2017
And there were memes a'plenty
The key to finding the GOP health care bill is to figure the whereabouts of its guardian, Rep. Carmen Sandiego (R-Calif.).
— Jeffrey Young (@JeffYoung) March 2, 2017
https://t.co/UZd2anpUQJ pic.twitter.com/CA7xpGC54t
— ☪️ Charles Gaba ✡️ (@charles_gaba) March 2, 2017
— darth™ (@darth) March 2, 2017
While members frantically search for the ACA repeal bill, Speaker Ryan aims his bow at his office door, where he personally guards the bill pic.twitter.com/n8QH04wVMs
— Josh Billinson (@jbillinson) March 2, 2017
I have the House Obamacare bill, it’s yours if you can answer my riddles three @RandPaul
— Ashley Feinberg (@ashleyfeinberg) March 2, 2017
New Schoolhouse rock lyric:
— carl hulse (@hillhulse) March 2, 2017
I'm just a bill
Being held under lock and key Against my will
In an undisclosed location
Up on Capitol Hill. https://t.co/udDAZlXjQp
Just dropping in to say I walked by C. Hill today. Felt like the set of It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. The prize is a scoop/hot take
— Jeff Byers (@jeffpbyers) March 2, 2017