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President Trump on 'Obamacare Lite:' There Will Be Multiple 'Phases' (Why not a Clean Repeal?)
PJ Media ^ | 03/07/2017 | Tyler O'Neill

Posted on 03/07/2017 9:37:25 AM PST by SeekAndFind

Even before Congressional Republicans revealed their plan to replace Obamacare on Monday, many conservatives had expressed concerns that the bill would become "Obamacare Lite" — more a modification than a full "repeal and replace." For those unsatisfied with the health reform blueprint, President Donald Trump tweeted an answer Tuesday morning.

"Don't worry, getting rid of state lines, which will promote competition, will be in phase 2 & 3 of healthcare rollout," the president declared via Twitter.

Follow Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump Don't worry, getting rid of state lines, which will promote competition, will be in phase 2 & 3 of healthcare rollout. @foxandfriends 8:41 AM - 7 Mar 2017 8,967 8,967 Retweets 41,101 41,101 likes

Trump's suggestion that the Republican replacement for Obamacare will be a process might be a belated attempt to assuage conservative opposition to the new health plan, attacked as "TrumpCare" or "Obamacare Lite."

The attacks were vicious, and not without merit.

"The very first thing - THE FIRST THING - we were told is that we're going to REPEAL and REPLACE. The new law itself starts with 'amends,'" Joe Cunningham, a senior contributing editor at RedState, posted on Twitter. "As in, it AMENDS the Obamacare. Which is not what Republican voters have been promised all this time, now is it?"

Joe Cunningham @JoePCunningham Trying to figure out what the House ACA replacement actually fixes, because it just looks like everything is worse now. Follow

Joe Cunningham @JoePCunningham

The very first thing - THE FIRST THING - we were told is that we're going to REPEAL and REPLACE. The new law itself starts with "amends." 8:02 AM - 7 Mar 2017 31 31 Retweets 45 45 likes

RedState's Caleb Howe was even more blunt: "The House has released their plan for replacing Obamacare, and if you were expecting some kind of full repeal like what every Republican in the galaxy has been promising for the last thousand years, forget it. This isn’t that."

Daniel Horowitz, senior editor at Conservative Review, said the new health plan was even worse than "Obamacare-lite."

The first thing to understand about the GOP healthcare bill is that it is not merely Obamacare-lite or a bad “replacement” bill. It doesn’t repeal the core of Obamacare in the first place. In fact, the few parts that it repeals or tweaks within a few years will actually intensify the death spiral of Obamacare when mixed with the core regulatory structure, exacerbated by the subsidies that they do keep. And this time, the GOP will own it politically. All of it. But it wasn't only conservative bloggers attacking the bill. Three conservative Republican senators posted a message in tandem on Twitter: "2 yrs ago, the GOP Congress voted to repeal Obamacare. That 2015 repeal language should be the floor, the bare minimum.

#FullRepeal"

Rand Paul: I Will Not Vote for 'Obamacare Lite' Follow

Ted Cruz ✔ @tedcruz

2 yrs ago, the GOP Congress voted to repeal Obamacare. That 2015 repeal language should be the floor, the bare minimum. #FullRepeal 8:07 PM - 27 Feb 2017

2,171 2,171 Retweets 6,060 6,060 likes

Texas Senator Ted Cruz, Utah Senator Mike Lee, and Kentucky Senator Rand Paul each pushed the same message.

Follow

Mike Lee ✔ @SenMikeLee

2 yrs ago, GOP Congress voted to repeal #Obamacare. That 2015 repeal language should be the minimum. #FullRepeal @SenTedCruz @SenRandPauI 8:20 PM - 27 Feb 2017 1,015 1,015 Retweets 2,080 2,080 likes

This is significant, since any Republican plan could only afford to lose two Republican votes in the U.S. Senate and still pass.

Follow Senator Rand Paul ✔ @RandPaul

2 yrs ago, the GOP Congress voted to repeal Obamacare. That 2015 repeal language should be the floor, the bare minimum. #FullRepeal 8:17 PM - 27 Feb 2017 1,871 1,871 Retweets 4,455 4,455 likes

Paul joined North Carolina Congressman Mark Meadows in calling for an immediate repeal of Obamacare, and debating a replacement later. "We own repeal. We ran on it. It is our idea. We have to pass it cleanly, now," Paul and Meadows declared in a Fox News op-ed Monday night.

"We should debate all of these replacement ideas on the same day we pass Repeal, but we will have to separate the debate into at least two different bills because there is no consensus with leadership on replacement," Paul and Meadows wrote. They attacked "Republican leadership" for supporting several parts of Obamacare:

1. Leadership wants to keep ObamaCare-like subsidies to buy insurance but rename them refundable tax credits (families will be given up to $14,000 dollars of other people's money)

2. leadership wants to keep the ObamaCare Cadillac tax but rename it a tax on the top 10% of people who have the best insurance.

3. Leadership wants to keep the individual mandate but instead of mandating a tax penalty to the government they mandate a penalty to the insurance company (can it possibly be Constitutional to mandate a penalty to a private insurance company?)

4. Leadership wants to keep $100 billion of the insurance company subsidies from ObamaCare but call them "reinsurance". (Why? Because insurance companies love guaranteed issue as long as the taxpayer finances it!)

"Conservatives don't want new taxes, new entitlements and an 'ObamaCare Lite' bill," Paul and Meadows wrote. "If leadership insists on replacing ObamaCare with ObamaCare-lite, no repeal will pass."

These two Republicans called for a clean passage of the same 2015 legislation originally supported by Republicans to repeal Obamacare.

Rather than following Trump's plan of passing a "repeal and replace" bill which really amends Obamacare, and then supporting further modifications later on in "phase 2 & 3 of healthcare rollout," Senator Paul and Congressman Meadows called for an immediate repeal, followed by a robust and open debate on what a replacement should look like.

This way of proceeding might be painful and certainly will be turbulent, but it is in the best interest of the nation — and the Republican Party. Republicans attacked Democrats for secret negotiations in crafting Obamacare, and especially condemned Nancy Pelosi's infamous declaration that Congress would have to pass it to see what's in it.

In order to really replace Obamacare, Republicans need to have a transparent debate from the beginning, not pass a faux "repeal and replace," only to amend that later, as Trump tweeted.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: gopecare; gopecarephases; obamacare; obamacarelite; repeal; repealobamacare; rinocare; trumpcare
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To: SarahPalin2012

What about the people who lost their plans when Obamacare took effect. Where the Hell are their sob stories?


21 posted on 03/07/2017 9:57:53 AM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist (STOP THE TAPE!)
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To: SeekAndFind

So now we don’t trust Trump? Let me off THAT train. Trump is my guy PERIOD.


22 posted on 03/07/2017 10:00:22 AM PST by jmaroneps37 (Conservatism is truth. Liberalism is lies.)
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To: G Larry

Repeal the whole thing and write those “features” into the new law then. BTW, covering pre existing conditions is not insurance.


23 posted on 03/07/2017 10:00:44 AM PST by jospehm20
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To: SeekAndFind

I knew it. I should have voted for Hillary.


24 posted on 03/07/2017 10:00:52 AM PST by Moonman62 (Make America Great Again!)
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To: Owen

How? 50 votes would do it and if we don’t have 50 then you make them really feel the heat from their constituents with real town hall noise and not the fake crap we saw on TV. No more placating, no more excuses. Trump needs to lead his party to a repeal...unless of course he supports this and is driving for single payer.

Excuses are over the time for action is now. If he does not veto his first bill he sends a message that the RINOS they can send him legislation and make him bend at the detriment of their elections. Or he agrees with them. There is no other way it can be stated


25 posted on 03/07/2017 10:05:10 AM PST by Jarhead9297
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To: from occupied ga
First of all...There is no such thing as a penalty for not signing up. There is no mandate. The mandate for employers no longer exists and plenty of folks will get their 40 hour week back.

We're going back to Medicaid as the original plan for health care. If you're sick and can't pay, you are treated under Medicaid.

As far as PP....as long as they fund/do/recommend abortions....no money for you.

Obamacare was nothing more than Medicaid with a mandatory insurance policy attached....and the government got a piece of every policy written.

26 posted on 03/07/2017 10:06:37 AM PST by Sacajaweau
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To: SeekAndFind

Federal control of healthcare is ILLEGAL!!

Headlines on 03/07/2017 from “conservative” sites:



Rand Paul: House GOP Healthcare Plan Will Not Pass Because it’s Obamacare-Lite
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/rand-paul-house-gop-healthcare-plan-will-not-pass/article/2616645

RINOcare Will Continue to Drive Up Costs With Subsidies, Penalties, and Mandates
https://www.forbes.com/sites/theapothecary/2017/03/07/house-gops-obamacare-replacement-will-make-coverage-unaffordable-for-millions-otherwise-its-great/#7861df1a37fd

Obamacare 2.0 is a gift to illegals. Oh, and GOP? You LIE.
https://www.conservativereview.com/commentary/2017/03/obamacare-2-point-0-is-a-gift-to-illegals-oh-and-gop-you-lie

Conservative groups blast GOP healthcare plan
http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/322717-conservative-groups-blast-gop-healthcare-plan

RINOcare is NOT Repealing Obamacare; And the GOP Owns It
https://www.conservativereview.com/commentary/2017/03/rino-care-a-more-insolvent-version-of-obamacare-except-this-time-gop-owns-it

5 Serious Problems With RINOcare
http://www.dailywire.com/news/14161/ryancare-5-serious-problems-republican-replacement-ben-shapiro

Trump’s Big-Government Fixes are Giving Conservatives Indigestion
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/trumps-big-government-fixes-are-giving-conservatives-indigestion/article/2616273

Dana Loesch: ‘We Didn’t Protest Obamacare for 8 Years to Get Obamacare 2.0 From Congressional Republicans’
http://twitchy.com/brettt-3136/2017/03/06/midterms-come-fast-gop-dana-loesch-slams-house-republican-rollout-of-obamacare-2-0/

Leading Conservatives TRASH Obamacare Replacement as RINOcare, Obamacare-Lite, Obamacare 2.0
http://politistick.com/leading-conservatives-grade-obamacare-replacement-big-fat-f/

Conservatives Dub Obamacare Replacement Obamacare 2.0, Obamacare-Lite
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/some-conservatives-pan-obamacare-replacement/article/2616629

RINO House Leadership Announces Obamacare 2.0
http://ijr.com/2017/03/818591-gop-reveals-its-highly-anticipated-plan-to-replace-obamacare-here-are-the-highlights/

House Republicans’ Obamacare Plan Lacks Party Buy-In
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2017/03/07/house_republicans_obamacare_plan_lacks_party_buy-in_133272.html

Some Conservatives Balk at Obamacare Replacement
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2017/03/07/house_republicans_obamacare_plan_lacks_party_buy-in_133272.html


27 posted on 03/07/2017 10:06:49 AM PST by ForYourChildren (Christian Education [ RomanRoadsMedia.com - Classical Christian Approach to Homeschool ])
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To: jmaroneps37

He’s my guy too! But that doesn’t mean you don’t fight him and send a message when you don’t agree with his policies on certain things! That’s blind worship no different than we had with Obamabots!

Just because you part ways and fight him on policy doesn’t mean you don’t support him! You agree too with his trillion dollar infrastructure plan as well as nanny care I have to pay for as well? He your guy on these policies too?


28 posted on 03/07/2017 10:08:27 AM PST by Jarhead9297
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To: SarahPalin2012

Exactly. I’d rather have a much more conservative bill but where are the votes for that? We can complain about certain senators all we want but they aren’t going to vote for a flat out repeal. And the pubic has proven over and over and over and over again that they aren’t as “conservative” as we’d like them to be. So a flat out repeal isn’t going to fly with the public, especially since Obamacare as caused rates to go through the ceiling. We have to take this in steps. Whatever is proposed has to be able to pass. Any conservative who proposes something more radical should explain how it will get the votes necessary to pass it, and simply making angry accusations against Collins and Murkowski doesn’t count as a plan to get it passed.


29 posted on 03/07/2017 10:10:30 AM PST by Opinionated Blowhard ("When the people find they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.")
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To: SeekAndFind

RyanCare FAKE Care

Phase 1: SUCKS

Phase 2: Do not give a sh*t
Phase 3: Do not give a sh*t

Paul Ryan for President 2020


30 posted on 03/07/2017 10:10:59 AM PST by TheNext (RyanCare is FAKE Healthcare! VETO VETO VETO)
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To: SeekAndFind

TrumpCare 2016

Rand Paul for President 2020!


31 posted on 03/07/2017 10:11:09 AM PST by TheNext (RyanCare is FAKE Healthcare! VETO VETO VETO)
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To: Jarhead9297

Repeal only doesn’t have 50 votes. What do you not get about that?

Make WHO feel heat? McCain? He’s not up for 6 yrs. Collins? She’s in a Blue state.

WHAT DO YOU NOT GET ABOUT THIS? You Have To Have The Votes. If You Don’t, then you face The GOP could not even pass a bill — AND THAT MEANS YOU STILL HAVE OBAMACARE.


32 posted on 03/07/2017 10:11:31 AM PST by Owen
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To: SeekAndFind

Because he needs a few more “I’ve kept my Promises to keep the only people he’s got onboard, US, we the voters”! Yes? No?


33 posted on 03/07/2017 10:14:03 AM PST by Harpotoo
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To: Jarhead9297

“And a complete repeal doesn’t require 60 does it thank to Harry Reid?”

NOT TRUE!

Replace is a budget item and can’t be managed via continuing resolution and other “tricks”.


34 posted on 03/07/2017 10:14:21 AM PST by G Larry (There is no great virtue in bargaining with the Devil)
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To: G Larry

At some point we are going to have to make a tough decision about pre-existing conditions and underwriting. This is s dodge and Obamacare 2.0.


35 posted on 03/07/2017 10:14:56 AM PST by bray (Pray for President Trump)
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To: jospehm20

That IS what this bill does.


36 posted on 03/07/2017 10:15:23 AM PST by G Larry (There is no great virtue in bargaining with the Devil)
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To: bray

Yep, Tom Price (HHS) has promoted special high risk pool insurance.


37 posted on 03/07/2017 10:17:08 AM PST by G Larry (There is no great virtue in bargaining with the Devil)
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To: G Larry; All

The pathetic 26 year old snowflake/pajama boys should have moved out of Mom’s basement and on their own when they turned 18.


38 posted on 03/07/2017 10:18:58 AM PST by Cobra64 (Common sense isn't common any more.)
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To: Owen

So you mean to tell me if those that weren’t voting for it didn’t have hundreds outside their offices until their mind changed wouldn’t change their vote? Hogwash they are as jellynsoinded as the next politician. It appears to me they won’t even have the votes for even this as Lee/Cruz/Paul aren’t voting for it so I guess taking a principled stand against what the people didn’t ask for and for a liberal lite bill is what is in order.

You either fight and repeal or strip all funding period. There is no middle ground with this crap and the GOP has had 7 years to figure this crap out. Thank god this won’t even make Trumps desk as I fear he’d sign it


39 posted on 03/07/2017 10:19:51 AM PST by Jarhead9297
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To: Cobra64

Forcing young men on the plan is what pays for it.


40 posted on 03/07/2017 10:20:37 AM PST by bray (Pray for President Trump)
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