Conservatives misread Obamacare repeal

Misan Mayıs 27, 2022

Via Instapundit, Chris Buskirk: "Ryancare Will Destroy The Republican Majority."

Nope.

Donald Trump promised to restore the good things about the pre-Obamacare system and to enact some common sense reforms. A week before the November election he said, “If we don’t repeal and replace Obamacare, we will destroy American health care forever — it’s one of the single most important reasons why we must win on November 8. Our replacement plan includes Health Savings Accounts, a nationwide insurance market where you can purchase across state lines, and letting states manage Medicaid dollars.”

But that is not the Ryan plan.

There are no Health Savings Accounts, no nationwide insurance market, and even the Medicaid promise is suspect. When Republican voters heard repeal and replace they thought they were getting HSAs and the ability to buy insurance across state lines. What they’re getting is expanded Medicaid and a budget busting new entitlement program. That wasn’t the deal.

Whatever support President Trump has shown this bill it will be congressional Republicans who pay the price for supporting it. They will face the wrath of the base for turning their backs on the oft-repeated promise to repeal Obamacare. They’ve raised untold millions on the back of that promise. They’ve won election after election because voters were willing to trust — or at least take a chance — on that promise.

Buskirk misunderstands the opposition to Obamacare.

Yes, polls repeatedly show opposition to Obamacare, which led to the historic takeover of the House in 2010 (which readers recall I predicted six months out while experts said Democrats would hold the House).

But while the devil is in the details, the people are not. After seven years, Obamacare is no longer a hot button issue. It's a long, drawn out battle that Americans wish would just end.

President Trump did not run on Make Health Savings Accounts Great Again.

President Trump did not run on Make Nationwide Insurance Markets Great Again.

No, President Trump ran on Make America Great Again.

People want the economy going, the wall built, and the military re-built.

This is not to say repealing Obamacare is unimportant. Certainly, we need to end the mandates. Small businesses need Congress to lift the onus of providing health insurance to workers.

I agree with Buskirk on health savings accounts and interstate health coverage. I will do him one better by supporting Medicaid block grants with an eye on reducing spending on this program that is busting state budgets throughout the nation.

Maybe these things will be in the final bill.

But the bill needs to be kicked over to the Senate where, for parliamentary reasons that allow passage with only 50 votes and Pence's tie breaking vote, the repeal and replace bill must be written in the Senate.

In conference, the final bill emerges.

While I realize Buskirk is lobbying for what he wants in the bill, he is over-the-top in saying these are deal breakers with the public.

The public is not going to toss the House and Senate over to Democrats next year over health savings accounts and interstate health coverage.

If you think so, it's time to take a stroll outside the bubble.