I just dread the prospect of Obamacare thoroughly collapsing on President Trump’s watch and the GOP absorbing the blame for not acting in due haste.
Most presidents suffer midterm congressional losses and the specter of President Trump paralyzed—or worse—by the dems is horrible to contemplate.
Mitch McConnell reportedly want to hold the vote on health care next week so that he can move ahead with budget matters.
Based on the once-per-year legislative reconciliation opportunity, this deadline ought to be met. Moreover, if the republicans fail to assemble a health care package, they will be further handicapped going forward with tax reform/cuts. Ideally, achieving success with health care offers the GOP more built-in savings to apply to taxes, infrastructure, border security (the Wall), etc.
I just hope the President Trump and his team can work expeditiously with Heller, Cruz, Lee, Johnson and Paul to iron out necessary amendments/changes to persuade them to vote for an ameliorated bill for passage next week.
But no Republicans voted for Obamacare though.
If it collapses, the Democrats would get the blame.
But more importantly, why are you accepting the premise that the Republicans have to do something anyway?
Republicans are not obligated to save Obamacare, or make it "run better."
Look, Obamacare has completely destroyed the semi-market healthcare system in America that the best option is to simply repeal it and return back to market forces.
Because if you go back to the old system, it will lead up to single-payer anyway.
If Obamacare is not fully repealed, we will have single-payer. Obamacare Jr. pushed by Congressional Republicans will be called Trumpcare. The Dems' base will be motivated. Republican voters will be discouraged.
Now is the perfect time to turn over Medicaid, Medicare, and all other federally-funded or regulated health programs to the states completely, then deregulate the entire industry so market forces (competition) can work its magic.