GOP talk shifts from replacing ObamaCare to repairing it

[milestogo]

Source: The Hill

Key Republican lawmakers are shifting their goal on ObamaCare from repealing and replacing the law to the more modest goal of repairing it.

It’s a striking change in rhetoric that speaks to the complexities Republicans face in getting rid of the Affordable Care Act. Many of the law’s provisions are popular, and some parts of the law that the GOP does want to repeal could have negative repercussions on the parts seen as working.

“I'm trying to be accurate on this that there are some of these provisions in the law that probably will stay, or we may modify them, but we're going to fix things, we're going to repair things,” House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-Ore.), a key player on healthcare, told reporters Tuesday. “There are things we can build on and repair, there are things we can completely repeal,” he said.

Senate Health Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) is sounding a similar note. He notes that Republicans plan to use special budget rules known as reconciliation to prevent Democrats from filibustering a vote to repeal ObamaCare. The use of those rules won’t allow all of ObamaCare to be repealed.

Read more: http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/317441-gop-talk-shifts-from-replacing-obamacare-to-repairing-it

[ananda]

1. In GOP lingo, repair means break it beyond repair.

..

[Sherman A1]

2. Ah,

perhaps the light bulb went off and they finally figured out that repeal wasn't such a popular concept?

[groundloop]

11. So they'll break it beyond repair, call it a fix, then repeal the remnants which they've broken.

[wordpix]

31. they can't agree on a plan b/c O-care IS the repub plan via Romneycare

haha, that's just karma

[JDC]

3. So first they need to "repeal it" for show

Then keep everything intact, tweet some names and call it theirs. Have at it.

[Chemisse]

19. That's the Republican way.

No matter how they spin it, it would be as tremendous relief if they kept it.

[Angry Dragon]

4. idiots ............ could have done this 6 years ago

[kacekwl]

5. I'll believe it when I see it n/t

[SammyWinstonJack]

30. tRumpcare...it won't be workable.

[wordpix]

32. the only thing workable will be the many lawsuits & uproar

Trumpty Dump has to deal with, from his Trump biz conflicts of interest to the Muslim ban and now the strike on Yemen.

[Jake Stern]

6. Predicted some time ago they were going to put a new label on it and re-introduce it

The repeal and replace is just for show.

[nini]

14. Exactly

they just want Obama's name off of it.

[SunSeeker]

23. They can call it the Affordable Care Act.

[wordpix]

33. they'll tell their base that's what they did & base won't know

nothing changed but the name is now Trumpcare

[SHRED]

7. COWARDS!!

All of them.

Not that I want them to repeal it but they sure were brave knowing Obama would veto them.

[Skittles]

8. LOL - they don't a FUCK about helping the American people

their "repairs" will benefit ANYONE but WE THE PEOPLE

[ffr]

9. Sorry. They don't know the meaning. They'll only be happy when we're dying.

You have to view what they're doing from their perspective. They're vindictive assholes. I'd never cut them any leniency.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

10. It's a trick. Don't let them hoodwink the public. RepubliCONs will break it and say "See it failed!"

[xor]

37. I'm thinking the same thing.

They will keep it as "Obamacare" but muck it up enough that it becomes completely screwed up, and then they'll claim Obama's healthcare reform was a failure.

[Wounded Bear]

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

they definitely want to repeal the part about the tax on rich fuckers. But of course, that means the bill isn't paid for.

As usual, they want to keep all the popular bennies, but drop the "unpopular" part that require someone to pay for it.

Two Santas.

Regardless of the last premium increases, rates have been increasing slower on average than before ACA. Without the regulation, the Ins companies will just start boosting premiums like before the bill was passed. It's pretty simple really. Want to really improve it? Tack on a realistic public option, and force states to take the fucking Medicaid expansion that so many stupid red states opted out of.

[wordpix]

34. beware, Soc. Sec. doesn't pay much, Medicare doesn't cover much

no dental, no vision, and low payments to providers so Medicare recipient pays the rest.

I am just saying beware the public option if my experience is any guide.

[Wounded Bear]

35. I suspect it would be better if Dems were in control of designing it...

but I get your drift.

[cstanleytech]

13. i doubt they want to save it rather this is more likely damage control for when they kill it. nt

[TomCADem]

15. Please. The GOP Does Not Have a Clue Beyond Yelling Repeal and Replace

[targetpractice]

16. They just want to change the name...

Tweak it a bit, call it "TrumpCare — The Greatest Healthcare In History" and they'll be happy.

The insurance companies are not gonna let them repeal it.

They want the future votes and legacy... They cannot stand that the first black president's name is associated with revolutionary healthcare reform. And, they will not destroy the health insurance market.

Upon edit: I believe Obama wouldn't give a shit as long as people get the care they need.

[wordpix]

36. all true but with Trump driving the clown car

who knows what more mayhem he will cause? Destroy the insurance market? Pres. Bannon likes to destroy all kinds of established systems like that.

[IronLionZion]

17. Just change the name to Trumpcare and call it a day

and claim they repealed and replaced it.

[targetpractice]

18. Jinx... You owe me a Coke. n/t

[IronLionZion]

24. Here you go

and something to give you chills

[Blue Idaho]

20. Keep those phone calls coming kids...

Republicans know they are hugely fucked... After seven years of bitching they have NOTHING - NO IDEAS about how to improve American's health care.

I hope Democrats rub their noses in it.

[not fooled]

28. Yep

They never thought they'd ever have to do anything except bitch about the black guy. Now the sh*t is hitting the fan and the koch kooks can't handle it.



P.S. (the following is spoken slowly, as if to a little child):

Dear dimwit 'puke House members: the ACA is derived from ideas promulgated by the Heritage Foundation (gag). You can't get it to work better without providing a public option or going single payer. If you want to preserve the private insurance model to garner $$$ for your paymasters in the insurance industry but still provide coverage for most Americans (as little as you care about them but you gotta minimize the outrage you are starting to get from them), this is as good as it gets. You can't just let the insurance industry predators do whatever they want. They are still making plenty of money. Dumbasses.

[0rganism]

21. in other words, break it until it's as bad as they say it is

then they can repeal it and say, "see? we told you so."

[SharonAnn]

38. Then they will be expected to replace it with 'something better".

[0rganism]

39. expected by who?

after the Republicans get done with the ACA, people will want it to just go away.

[Cryptoad]

22. i guess it has finally bcome clear ,,,,,

that the GOP does no have enough combined cognitive capacity to write a big Gubermint bill on any issue. They made it to washington on their chest thumping skills.

[elmac]

25. they will get rid of the mandates

and subsidize the higher premium costs with money stolen from one of the safety net programs, then call it Trumpcare and brag what a great law it is.

[Purrfessor]

26. So what they are saying is they will conceal and rebrand it.

[Marie Marie]

27. Bet they allow insurance companies to sell across state lines..

and that will pollute the bill even further into the hands of the insurance company profits. No matter the changes they make - it's the Republicans and they will only make it worse for the consumer.

[Brother Buzz]

29. Rebrand and relaunch it, then take a victory lap

Woohoo, the republican way!!!