(Wow) Republicans Begin Laying Ground Work to Walk Away From Obamacare Opposition

[kpete]

(from RedState):

Conservative and Republican affiliated groups have started the 2014 assault against Democrats who support Obamacare. At the very same time, it is increasingly clear Republicans are laying the groundwork to abandon their opposition to Obamacare.

The Business Roundtable, which has a great relationship with Republican Leaders, is now listing Obamacare as an entitlement worth preserving.

Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a former economic advisor to John McCain and who opposed passage of Obamacare, has started a think tank premised on keeping, but fixing, Obamacare. Holtz-Eakin has the ear of Republican leaders. In 2009, Mitch McConnell appointed him to the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission.

The Chamber of Commerce is declaring it will work to fix, not repeal, Obamacare. In fact, just last week the head of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said, “The administration is obviously committed to keeping the law in place, so the chamber has been working pragmatically to fix those parts of Obamacare that can be fixed.”



http://www.redstate.com/2014/01/16/republicans-begin-ground-work-to-walk-away-from-obamacare-opposition/

[factsarenotfair]

1. I'll bet they want to fix it into oblivion. n/t

[OmahaBlueDog]

11. I think they'll win some points they wanted

Specifically, I think they'll win on allowing health insurance carriers to operate on a multi-state basis.

They are going to continue to oppose individual mandate, but since the rule is not yet being enforced to any great degree, this should not be a great issue.

[DallasNE]

17. States Lose Control

Since the State Insurance Commissioner becomes a useless entity. This would also result in even more consolidation of insurance companies where we would end up with about 3 huge insurance companies controlling everything. When that drives up costs it could well usher in cries for a single payer system to control costs.

[OmahaBlueDog]

19. Truth be told, I think we'll eventually end up with something resembling private single payer

Maybe with one company; maybe with multiple (no more than 4) companies competing on service level, price, provider network, etc. I still think we'll end up with some kind of upsell service (think Ireland). Some people will want cheaper rates; others will be willing to pay extra to get faster service, more choice on physicians, and to be able to go straight to a specialist.

Right now, there is a FIO (Federal Insurance Office), and the idea of an optional federal charter has been suggested for certain lines. So it's not a big leap to think that this may end up out of the hands of the commissioners -- and many may consider that a win-win.

Also, at some point, I see the exchanges going away. Instead, plans will simply meet requirements to be certified bronze, silver, etc. and be sold through agencies. Not unlike flood insurance (except flood is a federally owned company).

[Heather MC]

27. It wouldn't need "fixing" if they hadn't worked so hard to fuck it up

SMH
let's hope the dems get enough seat in 2014 to properly "fix it"

[tridim]

2. As I've been saying for months, the GOP is weak as hell right now.

Time to pounce.

[liberal N proud]

3. They have been fighting Social Security since it began

They have been fighting Medi Care since it began.

What makes anyone think they are going to stop fighting Health care?

[OmahaBlueDog]

12. Because it's a "Private Sector Solution"

The GOP is odd. On one hand, they wanted to convert Social Security into a 401K plan, and drop trillions of dollars of taxpayer money into the equity markets. On the other hand, they've opposed a government healthcare plan, formulated by a Republican, that mandates that consumers purchase private health insurance.

Ultimately, I think they will concede that it is better for everyone to have health insurance than to continue to have Medicaid expenses grow beyond all reason.

[gulliver]

25. Exactly.

As with Medicare and Social Security, the Republicans will switch to killing health by "reforming" it.

[JNelson6563]

4. Now maybe they'll sell that buggy whip stock.

[Baitball Blogger]

5. Don't fool yourself. If the Chamber of Commerce is involved, they're planning

to destroy it from within. Don't let those foxes get in the hen house!

[jmowreader]

21. Don't think that way

The Chamber of Commerce has finally figured out the core truth of Obamacare: if you can dump your employee benefit costs onto the taxpayer, in whole or in part, your profits go up. Think back to the DU threads about corporations ending health insurance for employees...the affected employees went to the exchanges and got better coverage for less money and the corporations' fiscal picture improved simultaneously. Of course the Chamber likes Obamacare now!

[Iliyah]

6. Don't believe them at all.

GOPers speak with forked tongue.

[herding cats]

7. The Chamber of Commerce is probably trying to find a way to charge the poor for coverage.

The rest of the ACA doesn't bother them, just the fact that all poor people might actually get Medicaid.

[JaneyVee]

8. Soon they'll be taking credit for it.

[Egnever]

16. yup

No doubt about it they will be pointing to romney as the pioneer that got the ball rolling for America and clqiming that obama couldnt have done it without them.

Republicans are masters of taking advantage of the publics ability to forget.

[riqster]

9. They'll "fix" it like one does a tomcat. nt

[Bluzmann57]

10. Nope. Can't have it both ways boys.

Either they are for it or they are against it. The repukes have denounced the AHCA since the beginning and now they want to try and convince people that maybe it's ok? Sorry, it won't work. Despite what a lot of people (in here anyway) think, people are not all that stupid. They will remember.

[joanbarnes]

13. The only viable, reasonable 'fix' is Medicare for all.

[Javaman]

14. who will be the first repuke (pencil in your fav) to proclaim that they were "always" for ACA?

when they were actually and quite vocally against it the whole time.

[PFunk]

15. Personally I think they'll getting ready for 2017

When (I think) states can start instituting their own single player systems (If they haven't planned to do so already). And start combating those.

[Zorra]

18. They've already harmed tens of thousands of people with their lies. nt

[Initech]

20. If at first you don't succeed, try 41 times to repeal, then give up.

[blkmusclmachine]

22. GOP lays groundwork to walk away from opposition to GOP legislation.

[ConsSoLoca]

23. I'll believe it when I see it.

Right now the Rs are still capitalizing (pun intended) on the Obamacare website's failure while conveniently forgetting that it was their idea in the first place to ease the burden of healthcare for their buddies the business owners.

If the headline read "Republicans Begin Ground Work to Walk Away from Tea Party" or, more likely, "Tea Party Begins Ground Work to Walk Away from Republicans", now that I could believe.

[Bradical79]

24. Good luck with that...

After convincing so many people in their base that Obamacare is some sort of Nazi Socialist plot created to help Muslims take over the country, I think it'll be pretty tough to simply back away from their position.

[Squinch]

26. Five years from now they'll be taking credit for it.

[Thinkingabout]

30. My thoughts also or they will start calling it ACA and drop the Obama part. somehow they need this

To be a Republican game. They will rewrite history.

[truebluegreen]

31. They will all switch to calling it the ACA,

and then claim that 1) they fixed it and 2) it is far better than Obamacare.

[libdem4life]

28. Another factor of the C of C is that they represent millions of small to very small businesses.

The portion of those that are not required to supply insurance, makes it harder for them to get quality workers...benefits vs. no benefits. It's always a consideration in taking a job. With the ACA, it might be helpful to make a financial "assistance" or bonus knowing the worker can get health care on their own.

[gtar100]

29. It's all about the show for the republicans. They only value power and money and will swing in

whichever direction they believe will lead them to those two goals. It has nothing to do with principles about the good of humanity or care for our environment or the betterment of culture. And thus they are concluding that since they can't stop Obamacare, they are going to "fix it". I can only imagine their "solutions" would be to weaken regulations and eliminate price controls, followed by making it more difficult to qualify for assistance.

Yep, that ought to fix it real good!