Ted Cruz leads latest GOP alternative to Obamacare

Washington Examiner ^ | March 3, 2015 | 8:19 pm | Robert King

[SoConPubbie]

Conservative firebrand Sen. Ted Cruz is spearheading an alternative to Obamacare in the GOP's latest bid to show the Supreme Court it has a Plan B if the court eliminates subsidies for millions of Obamacare customers.

The bill filed by the Texas senator Tuesday would remove the healthcare law's insurance mandate and allow residents in one state the option to purchase a health plan of their choice in any other state. It is co-sponsored by Sens. John Barrasso of Wyoming, Mike Crapo of Idaho and Marco Rubio of Florida, all Republicans.

Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., introduced companion legislation in the House, according to a release on the bill, called the Healthcare Choice Act.

The court will hear oral arguments Wednesday on King v. Burwell on whether or not the federal government has the authority to offer subsidies to residents in federal-run health exchanges.

[SoConPubbie]

	"If we must have an enemy at the head of Government, let it be one whom we can oppose, and for whom we are not responsible, who will not involve our party in the disgrace of his foolish and bad measures." - Alexander Hamilton "We don't intend to turn the Republican Party over to the traitors in the battle just ended. We will have no more of those candidates who are pledged to the same goals as our opposition and who seek our support. Turning the Party over to the so-called moderates wouldn’t make any sense at all." -- President Ronald Reagan "A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice." - Thomas Paine 1792 "It does not take a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men." - Samuel Adams "If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen." - Samuel Adams

[SoConPubbie]

Ted Cruz Ping!

If you want on/off this ping list, please let me know.

Please beware, this is a high-volume ping list!

CRUZ or LOSE!

CRUZ or LOSE!

[BenLurkin]

There is already an alternative which is consistent with American practices and ideals — it’s called the free market.

[Jet Jaguar]

Reminder to donate $5 or $10 to end the Freepathon.

[babygene]

“it’s called the free market.”

This is “free market”. You might say, “free market on steroids”, since before this you were restricted to markets in your own state...

[SoConPubbie]

This is “free market”. You might say, “free market on steroids”, since before this you were restricted to markets in your own state...

Bingo!

At least this is a step in the right direction.

[TBP]

It sounds like a great bill, which means McConnell and Boehner will probably bend over backwards to kill it.

[Deagle]

Bingo...

[SteveH]

at least we should be spared the continual cry of the MSM that the Republicans are lacking in alternatives.

[DavidLSpud]

TED CRUZ-The MAN with a Plan based on the Constitutional principle of FREEDOM.

[grania]

Without a mandate, I’d assume that would mean the gov wouldn’t dictate what’s insured. It’s insane to insure things that aren’t unexpected and catastrophic. All it serves to do is raise costs and stop initiatives to develop cheaper healthcare solutions.

[taildragger]

If this is all we got purchase across state lines we are screwed, I hope their is more to this, such as:

* Mimic Georgia's Alternative Dispute System vs going to Court in all things Medical
* A focus on HSA's combined with "Concierge Service" i.e. flat fee for unlimited access to your Primary Care Doctor.
* Allow anyone to buy a policy pre tax by changing line 29 on the 1040.
* Modify the Flexible Spending Accounts or HSA's to allow payment of the "Concierge Service", currently they do not.

[trustandobey]

I would vote for it without even reading it!

[wolfman23601]

How many pages is it?

[ExTxMarine]

Ping for later reading.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Obamacare was NEVER about healthcare. It was about the leftist controlling the money and behavior of the entire country! Cruz knows this all to well!