Posted on 08/08/2019 12:11:34 PM PDT by yesthatjallen
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said this week that Republicans would push to repeal ObamaCare if they win back the House and President Trump is reelected in 2020.
"If we can get the House back and keep our majority in the Senate, and President Trump wins reelection, I can promise you not only are we going to repeal ObamaCare, we're going to do it in a smart way where South Carolina will be the biggest winner," Graham said in an interview with a South Carolina radio station.
"We've got to remind people that we're not for ObamaCare."
Graham's repeal bill, introduced in 2017, would eliminate major sections of ObamaCare, including subsidies that help people buy insurance and the Medicaid expansion that covers low-income adults in 36 states and Washington, D.C.
The bill would essentially shift money from states like California that expanded Medicaid to states that didn't, like South Carolina. Such a move could force some states to cut health care services and reduce eligibility.
"If we could get the money back to the states, Democratic policies would be tested against our policies," Graham said.
"This scares the hell out of the Democrats. This is what 2020 is about."
Previous GOP attempts to repeal ObamaCare were a driving force in Democrats taking back the House in 2018 and the issue has also reemerged among 2020 Democratic presidential hopefuls debating the best approach to health care.
Former Vice President Joe Biden has emphasized the need to shore up ObamaCare from attempts by Republicans and the Trump administration to dismantle the law, while several of his progressive rivals have focused on pushing policies such as "Medicare for All."
Democrats ran on protecting ObamaCare during the 2018 midterms and accused Republicans of trying to take away protections for those with pre-existing conditions.
House and Senate Democrats plan to follow the same playbook in 2020, as the Trump administration supports a lawsuit that seeks to overturn the entirety of ObamaCare.
As such, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has veered away from talking about repealing ObamaCare, instead focusing on smaller health care fixes.
Graham on Tuesday touted his bill, which would allow states to opt out of consumers protections, like those that prevent insurers from charging people with pre-existing conditions more for coverage.
Senate leaders decided in 2017 not to put Graham's repeal bill up for a vote because it didn't have enough support. Conservatives fumed that Republicans failed to repeal ObamaCare despite having a majority in both houses with a Republican president.
GOP Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Rand Paul (Ky.) and the late Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) all opposed the bill. But Graham insists it would be different next time.
"We were one vote short in the Senate," Graham said.
Both the right and left want to “Repeal and Replace” SoetoroCare. The only difference is the left wants to go right to socialized medicine and the right wants cost-effective private insurance. Make no mistake: They ALL want a “repeal”, but are arguing about “replace”. Thank you Senator “Thumbs Down” McNoName.
Smile...
Agreed...
“I dont know that its a lie or not.”
You’re a hell of a lot more trusting than me, then.
I treat politicians like I do car salesmen. I might, just maybe, if I am feeling very charitable, trust them once, but if I catch them lying, I’m never trusting them again.
The checked-pants country club Republicans might want to "replace" Obamacare, but conservatives simply want repeal. The conservative solution for health care is to get government out of it entirely. After its repealed we need to keep going and get rid of government subsidies to employers and special tax credits. Once consumers start making their own decisions about care and considering their own costs and spending prices will plummet, quality and efficiency will soar and it will no longer be a political issue.
If the Republicans win back the House and hold the Senate and the White House Obamacare still won't be repealed.
That’s a pretty useless opinion. So whats your incentive to give Trump the tools he needs to fund the wall, make tax cuts permanent, and MAGA?
Graham
Ping!
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Remember that Linda is up for reelection in 2020.
I don’t trust any of them any more than you I think. I just know the alternative is much worse. The days of letting Rhinos lose without a good strategy of replacement with conservatives (basically turning the seat over to a Dem) and saying its better to have the Dem their to take the blame from the screw ups may be over. The pendulum is swinging so fast that the next time it swings left, the left will bring its authoritarianism with it. I don’t like to think about what happens after that.
Like they did when they had the House and Senate his first two years?
Lucy, Charlie, football.
Youre not answering the question. If trump is saying vote republican, what are you going to do?
True, but without the House it and a lot of other good things are dead in the water.
I've voted Republican all my adult life. Now answer my question. If Congress wouldn't end Obamacare in the two years that they had both Congress and the White House why should we expect them to do so if they get the House back in 2020?
Im glad to hear you vote pragmatically. And I understand the frustration of not having better alternatives.
Im not a fortune teller so I dont know what will come out of a new republican congress. I only know that some of the swamp has been retired so there is a better chance, certainly than with the Dems in charge, that trump can progress his agenda, tempered only by conservatives, rather than by socialists.
PS - you are clearly a sane, pragmatic, but frustrated voter, as am I. My initial reply to you or others is in response to the perception of various posts that the answer is to not vote, stick heads in sand, or waste a vote on third parties that split tickets. In your case maybe it was my perception. In others I think it is more than just perception. My approach and advise remains consistent: conservative in primaries, republican in generals. Have a great day Dog.
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