Republican Senator Admits GOP Health-Care Plan Has to Remain Secret Because It Will Be Unpopular

[DonViejo]

By Jonathan Chait

February 9, 2017
9:09 a.m.

Republican opposition to the Affordable Care Act has always been premised on comparing an actual law, with its compromises and trade-offs, to an imaginary alternative. A Republican ad promises, “Health insurance that provides more choices and better care at lower costs, provides peace of mind to people with preexisting conditions … House Republicans have a plan to get there, without disrupting existing coverage.”

The end of the ad directs viewers to “learn more” at https://abetterhealthcareplan.com/. But when you visit the site, it’s just a big video of the same ad that directed you to the site, along with two brief sentences of text. (“There is a plan to get there. The House Republican Healthcare Plan lowers costs, provides more control and more choices to pick a plan that meets our needs, not a plan that Washington mandates.”) The Republican plan turns out to consist of an assurance that there is indeed a plan.

The Republican Party, faced with the catastrophic real-world consequences of repealing the Affordable Care Act, is divided over how to proceed. Some nervous Republicans want to figure out what they want to put in place of Obamacare. Senator Mike Lee insists that Republicans repeal Obamacare first, before they decide on an alternative. And his reason is straightforward: If people saw the Republican alternative, they might not like it! “There is a lot less agreement about what comes next,” he tells Julie Rovner. “If we load down the repeal bill with what comes next, it’s harder to get both of them passed.”

That is very true. If people see what Republicans would put in place of Obamacare, they would probably rather keep the status quo. Lee is right that the best way to eliminate Obamacare is to remain vague about the alternative. It’s a little odd for him to come out and admit this, though.

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http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/02/republican-admits-why-gop-health-plan-must-remain-secret.html

[scscholar]

1. What a courageous display of leadership here

Wait, a plan to take away health care from tens of millions of people, all to enable a tax cut for the wealthy, won't be popular? Shocking.

[Eyeball_Kid]

2. Trumpy: Trust me. The GOP Congress: Trust us.

In monarchies, the king says, "Trust Me." The king can then betray his people, and no one can do or say a thing.

During the establishment of this democratic republic, the founders based checks and balances partially on the fear that leaders' accountability can be optional. They ALWAYS wanted leaders to be accountable to the people, so their theme was to distrust politicians until they prove their trustworthiness. (And even then, continue to be wary.) A corollary would look like this: Behavior speaks louder than words. Where's the proof?

So. Why are we supposed to trust these folks?

[procon]

3. They keep saying 'access' and touting medical savings accounts

and promoting catastrophic only coverage, or low cost, cross state junk insurance with fewer benefits and less patient and less consumer protections against getting ripped off. Is all a con, and none of the ideas they have floated so far is an improvement on Obamacare.

The GOP is running a money making scam on behalf of the insurance industry. They are trying to sell the public on getting a tax break for depositing money in a medical savings account, or buying cheapo, high risk, high-deductible, for profit junk insurance with major restrictions on what is actually covered.

They're lying!

[Skittles]

4. LOL, now they're convincing idiotic Trump voters they have "a plan"

because any thinking person can see their are talking out of their ass

[yellowcanine]

5. In other words, "We ain't got squat."

That is all.

[angrychair]

6. Ok...ok...ok...we have a plan

Ok....to have a plan...ok...it is a plan...to have a plan....hope that is plain....ok...a plan....to have a plan...now watch this video that talks about the plan....to have a plan...eventually.

[brer cat]

7. They would be totally f'd if their supporters only had a brain.

I hope that eventually the curtain will be drawn away and they see the little man with nothing but smoke and mirrors.