GOP may stall Obamacare replacement for years

[jpak]

Source: Politico

Prepare for the Obamacare cliff.

Congressional Republicans are setting up their own, self-imposed deadline to make good on their vow to replace the Affordable Care Act. With buy-in from Donald Trump’s transition team, GOP leaders on both sides of the Capitol are coalescing around a plan to vote to repeal the law in early 2017 — but delay the effective date for that repeal for as long as three years.

They’re crossing their fingers that the delay will help them get their own house in order, as well as pressure a handful of Senate Democrats — who would likely be needed to pass replacement legislation — to come onboard before the clock runs out and 20 million Americans lose their health insurance. The idea is to satisfy conservative critics who want President Barack Obama’s signature initiative gone now, but reassure Americans that Republicans won’t upend the entire health care system without a viable alternative that preserves the law’s popular provisions.

“We’re talking about a three-year transition now that we actually have a president who’s likely to sign the repeal into the law. People are being, understandably cautious, to make sure nobody’s dropped through the cracks,” said Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas).

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Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/obamacare-republicans-repeal-replace-232025

[FarPoint]

1. Dah....

They never had a plan....never will....

[handmade34]

2. Oh, they have a plan...

they just know the citizenry won't buy it

[cstanleytech]

30. Oh some of them will buy it and the come back for seconds.

What they are really hoping is that the three year transition will buy them the time for some people to get used to the idea again of not having health coverage and also they will be looking for a way to shift the blame to the Democrats because they have zero intention to replace Obamacare with anything.

[bucolic_frolic]

3. 'Fraidy Cats

Pussies to their own base and rhetoric

now that they have the power they're afraid to do what they promised

and waffle at every turn

WIMPS!

[DeminPennswoods]

4. I know people will get hurt, but

Dems should just step aside and let the GOP have at it alone. For too many years, Dems have done their best to protect the vulnerable and their reward was to be demonized by the Rs, the media and even some liberals. Americans voted for this government and should be able to see the unadorned product they put in charge.

[Cosmocat]

12. Unfortunately this is probably the only thing we can do

I will be honest, I had several fits personally during the run up to the election where the stupid was just so overwhelming I thought, OK, let it happen ...

We now in a completely fact free, hate filled country.

Not sure that there is any way to reasonably talk us out of it.

And, most likely, as the last 30 years highlights, the Rs will drive us over a cliff and somehow it will be us liberals fault.

[wordpix]

19. I will NEVER let repukes mess w/my health insurance w/out a fight

My guess is you're getting employer sponsored health ins. For us independents, we can't just sit and watch the r's drive us over a cliff.

The ACA saved my life, both literally and financially. I'm a pre-existing condition (cancer) and could not have afforded $1/2 million in chemo + surgery out of pocket.

[Turbineguy]

26. It's not easy being an adult.

And having to deal with people whose social and economic policies are based on a work of fiction.

[lark]

39. Unfortunately, there's Mike Manchin.

He's a total repug in dem clothing and will vote with them to kill us every time, and Bob Corker isn't much better.

[unblock]

5. maybe democrats should pointedly propose single payer 68 times.

or however many times they pointlessly proposed repealing obamacare.

[Ligyron]

6. I would.

[greymattermom]

14. That's a great idea

and also call it Medicare for All. That would help both programs.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

50. But the GOP/KGB wants to kill Medicare, too

Ryan wants to replace the current highly efficient system with "coupon care" where seniors will get the opportunity to find out what care they can get on a limited budget. Yay, free markets!

[COLGATE4]

15. How do you get Ryan to put any one of these to a vote?

[unblock]

17. futility never stopped them.

[COLGATE4]

18. No, it didn't. But there's a world of difference between

passing legislation 68 times that eventually didn't go anywhere to simply proposing legislation that the House Leader will never even schedule for a vote.

[unblock]

47. true, but then there's not much else one can do with a minority in the house.

[PRETZEL]

49. That's true,

being in the minority means you have no control over what the majority decides to take up.

What it would do is it would get it into the Congressional Record.

[yardwork]

16. I wish we would.

[harun]

25. Damn right they should. Medicare Part-E (Everyone)

[FBaggins]

7. They want to use it as an issue in 2018 Senate races

They think they can get to 60 seats if they play their cards right.

[DetlefK]

8. They had 6 years to come up with an alternative. 6 YEARS!!!

And the best they can do is "We'll eventually have an idea in 4 more years. Promise."

[Cosmocat]

11. This is why all our infighting is uselss

there is some truth most ways with nitpicking why this election turned out the way it did from what Ds did or didn't do.

But, end of the day, the people of this country voted for Donald Trump, enough said there, and Rs, who never made even the first effort to engage in policy development with ACA instead choosing to go mental over complete nonsense, spent the last 6 years screaming REPEAL and have never put forward even the first bit of policy that would be the foundation to replace it.

I was all political bullshit, VERY CLEARLY.

When our citizenry is that fucking stupid to just ignore the obvious with this, and 100 other examples, taxex, etc. it really isn't about US as much as it is about the rampant stupidity that we are surrounded in so deep we now are on our tip toes with our necks bent back and only one nostril taking air.

[greymattermom]

35. The people voted for

Hillary by 2.5 million and still counting.
Voter purges elected Trump.

[Cosmocat]

42. STOP ALREADY

It was donald fucking trump, ONE vote is more than he should have received.

Yes, Hillary has "move votes" but 60 million dumb asses pulled the level for Trump. Millions voted for Johnson or Stein, and by not voting Hillary clearly were willing to accept Trump. And, 60 million or so more didn't vote at all, again, proving they are willing to accept Trump.

FURTHER both before AND after, November 8, this country had voted to allow republican assholes to have a majority in the House of Representatives and Senate and significantly more governors and state houses and senates.

So, YES, this country has willingly and democratically decided to both make Trump POTUS and give republicans absolute control over our government at the federal and state levels.

[lark]

41. "The people" voted in droves for his opponent.

Unfortunately, prairie dust counts for more than people with our horrible system and so he was able to steal the election and also unfortunately Hillary didn't challenge fast enough. Don't know who's threatening Obama so he's not releasing the information on how Russia helped drumpf steal the presidency, but sure seems like that's what's happened.

[Cosmocat]

44. This country "voted" in DROVES to make Trump POTUS and give Rs full control

By 1, actually voting for him 2, voting Stein Johnson or not voting POTUS on the ballot, thereby being willing to accept Trump as POTUS 3, not even getting out to vote, again, being willing to accept Trump as POTUS.

Sorry, but not only is balling around that Hill got more votes than Trump not changing anything, it isn't acknowledging reality, it is not being honest with where things are.

FAR more people 2 to 1, were at the very least willing to accept Trump than vote for the more qualified candidate, by far.

FURTHER, both on and after November 8th, this country had chosen to give republican assholes complete control of both chambers of congress and more governors and state house and senates.

This desperate, but Hillary has 2.5 million votes, thing only helps to keep people from reconciling with how flat fucking stupid this country is and how willing the people of this country are to have republicans do all the crazy as shit they want to do and have a complete meglomaniac for POTUS.

[Generator]

52. The white men and women that could vote easily sure did vote for Trump

But why did the other votes not count? Voter suppression, the guting of the voting rights act, closing poles you know the drill. Why the hell do we vote on Tuesday? What if you are poor and black? What if you have to work? I wouldn't wait in line for four hours. And I have voted easily for nearly 40 years because I live in Oregon and am white.

Don't know the extent of Russian manipulation/hacking either.

And those white men and women-some not all-but certainly the poor ones are very poorly educated. There are stories that Hillary killed people. They believe them. They believe this fake news. Until we address that head on-like imagine if Obama said let's have a weekly debate about why I am not a Muslim and why you believe this. Imagine if someone said the truth-Hillary didn't commit any crime and there is nothing to put her in jail for. It's lies and fantasy. Democrats have to talk to the beast if there is any chance. If you thought I was a murderer I would defend myself. We never sink to their level but it sits there. Call that shit out. Every day until it's dead. Might not work but it hasn't been tried.

[Cosmocat]

53. It seems hopeless

Everything you described, to me is blatantly apparent, every but of it.

But, this country chooses to indulge Republicans, time after time after time.

I have been paimed by this first 30 years now.

Meanwhile, Democrats bring cupcakes while they bring guns to the the fight.

I just don't see how it gets better. They are meaner, angrier and more uncivil with each day, and the country enables them more each day.

[LittleGirl]

9. Maybe we need to have a twitter tandrum

because they never had a plan and they know that the only way to cover everyone is single payer. And they are so arrogant, they want to be the one to propose it and sell it to the public as their idea, even though many countries in the world already have it. Fucking bastards just piss me off.

[Vinca]

10. It must be a shock to the system when you discover you actually have to work for your $174,000.

[Sunlei]

13. Fuck you Republicans if you remove/rollback ANY positive progress ACA has brought to Americans

[Nitram]

20. Some of them really want to come up with a "better" plan, and "improved" version of Obamacare,

...but they will probably never get enough votes to pass any particular version of it. Especially not one that actually does what it is supposed to do, which is lower costs and provide insurance to those who can't afford health care. Just as they couldn't get an alternative budget together that would avoid the sequester, which has had devastating effects on some segments of the economy. I predict they'll end up with egg on their face and a party in complete disarray just in time for Trump voters to realize Trump has no intention of, and no ability to, fulfill his promises to them.

[angrychair]

27. No

No republican ever does anything good. Period. They are self-serving putrid bags of narcissistic racist rage looking to kill and destroy at every opportunity.

Yes, I mean that with complete sincerity.

[Nitram]

29. Angry, you sound like a right winger labeling all liberals evil.

Last edited Thu Dec 1, 2016, 12:36 PM - Edit history (1)

Be careful your anger doesn't turn you into what you hate. It happens all the time, and I personally work hard to avoid that trap.

[angrychair]

34. I am kind to people

But not to ideals that are solely meant to kill and destroy. They condemn radical groups for bombings but their ideals have killed or ruined many more lives than any of these attacks. We need to call a spade a spade: Republicans, their ideals, only care about wealth and power and take joy in the degradation and control of those they see as less than them. There are a hundred ways to prove my point. I don't attack people personally, only the ideals they would use to destroy our country.

[lark]

43. It's easy to see why you feel this way.

That's what we see on a day to day basis, from R legislators, craven disregard for the country and the working class so they can line their own pockets. However, there are individual repugs who aren't totally evil. I have a good friend raised in GA by Repug R mayor and she's totally awesome, except for politically. She's also not a teahadist and voted against Voldemort twice. Unfortunately, she didn't vote for Hillary, believes the news too much, but neither did she vote for drumpf.

[angrychair]

46. As I stated in an earlier response

I am not unnecessarily mean or hateful to people but I am to republican ideals.

That being said, when interacting with republicans I never forget who they are and what they stand for: hate and death and domination. ALL OF THEM. I associate and have family members that are republican and we do fine in a normal day-to-day interaction but I never forget who they really are. There are no "good" republicans.

[Cosmocat]

45. accurate statement

nm

[exboyfil]

21. A Dem should just get the last bill

repealed by Obama and resubmit it. Nothing has changed since then so any Republican that does not support it is a hypocrite.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/08/politics/obama-vetoes-obamacare-repeal-bill/

[Hugin]

22. Has it ever been so clear the only reason they don't like the ACA is: because, Obama?

Sickening... Truly sickening.

[Nitram]

23. Well, Netanyahu got what he wanted. I hope he likes it.

[Denzil_DC]

24. The trap is obvious.

Repeal Obamacare.

Then dare the Democrats not to go along with whatever "replacements" the majority GOP come up with.

If they don't co-operate, accuse them of depriving people of healthcare coverage.

[geek tragedy]

40. traps never work on the minority party nt

[C_U_L8R]

28. Hey Trumpclown. What about all that Day One big talk?

Your mob of frenzied droolers aren't gonna
like all your broken promises.
Goes to show, you're all mouth and no clue.

[wordpix]

33. "all mouth and no clue" - DUzy!

I like it

[yellowcanine]

31. Oh yeah, what a great plan - create uncertainty for up to three years!

Genius, I say. Pure genius.

[flamingdem]

32. They are totally incompetent and evil

but want it to look as if they are the good guys.

[snooper2]

36. ROFLMAO these fucking douchebags- They sold the far-right message to a tee, now have to deliver

Problem is, if they do deliver they know they are FUCKED...

Come on assholes, start building that wall as well---

Let's see how good that goes!

[Blue Idaho]

37. Big Pharma's Got Em by the Balls.

Repeal Obamacare and try to keep the two most popular components: no pre-existing condition exclusions and keeping kids on your plan and Big Pharma will either say "insure everyone" or "approve rate hikes."

Either way people lose and Big Pharma wins.

Obamacare looks like it does because Big Pharma wasn't about to kill the golden goose - that's not about to change just because America elected a moron as President.

[lark]

38. Freaking craven Repugs.

Yeah, they think, we will repeal it but give it 3 years to end so voters wont be dying in droves by the next election, because we will never ever come up with a plan that doesn't hurt the working poor and seniors drastically. They make me so ill.

[Skittles]

48. stall for at least two

I want these fascist bastards wiped out in the mid-terms

[marybourg]

51. People need to make plans,

and have some stability in their lives. This has to be fought tooth and nail.

[jman0war]

54. Dems should COALESCE around a plan ACA 2.0

Dems should have a proposal plan ACA 2.0 ready.
When the next round of elections in 2018 come up, fly this plan against the Ryan plan and let the voters decide.

Single Payer is my preference
But i'm not confident the Dems have the balls to do it.