The Demise of Obamacare

Monday, March 22nd at 3:05AM EST

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The health care plan that Congress recently approved requires people to buy insurance. That’s the whole basis of the thing. That way, people cannot avoid insurance until they get sick or injured, and cannot thus take advantage of the new ban on turning away people with pre-existing conditions.

So, the requirement to buy insurance is a central feature of Obamacare. And, that feature will be the main target of the constitutional challenge in court.

All the same, there are some things in the new health care legislation that I like. For example, I like that health insurance will become more portable, meaning that people who leave a job will be able to keep themselves covered, and therefore will not lose coverage for a pre-existing condition. I hope that the GOP will offer a replacement health care plan, in the event that Obamacare is repealed or overturned, that includes this feature.

Here at Redstate, Erick says: “any Republican who says we will repeal and replace will themselves be replaced. We want repeal period.” But National Review has a different stance: “Conservatives will be able to capitalize on the discrediting of Obamacare, however it takes place, only if they campaign this fall on a pledge to replace this government-heavy system with true reform.” I think National Review is right.

It will be interesting to see how things develop over the next few days in Congress. One thing I’m hoping for is that both houses will quickly pass legislation repeating all the stuff in the executive order that Congressman Stupak obtained from President Obama.

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Muddled message

Beaglescout (Diary) Monday, March 22nd at 9:37AM EST (link)

REPEAL
or KILL THE BILL
is a much clearer campaign message than REPEAL PART OF IT

Republicans can counter claims that they have no ideas with the many bills they had that would implement portability by providing individuals with the same tax treatments as businesses.

“A nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master, and deserves one.”

–Alexander Hamilton

Study at Redstate University

Weekly Standard Reaction

AndrewHyman (Diary) Monday, March 22nd at 11:25AM EST (link)

“[O]n this issue, the message will have to be not just repeal but also replace–replace Obamacare with sensible reforms.”

Paul Ryan: "Change it, Repeal it and Replace It With a System That Works"

AndrewHyman (Diary) Monday, March 22nd at 12:37PM EST (link)

Paul Ryan:

“Change it, repeal it and replace it with a system that works, that’s consumer-driven, patient-centered and not a government-takeover or government-run system….”

Ross Douthat:

[O]ffering some sort of insurance-expanding proposal … instead of doubling down on the same “tort reform plus interstate purchasing” package the G.O.P. was offering before — might have given some Blue Dog Democrats the excuse they needed to throw in the towel on Obamacare entirely. They could have said, “yes, let’s listen to these reasonable Republican offers,” and the comprehensive bill would have died then and there.

Instead, the Republican leadership decided that a flat “no, start over” was still the right answer, from the point of view of policy and politics alike. They may well be vindicated on the politics this November.

Also see The Daily Caller: “There seems to be a gap forming betwen those who want a full repeal of the healthcare bill and GOP leaders.”

Oops, that's "The Hill" rather than the "Daily Caller"

AndrewHyman (Diary) Monday, March 22nd at 12:39PM EST (link)

n/t

SCOTUS vs the junta

justfedup Monday, March 22nd at 3:10PM EST (link)

On our best days we are not perfect, regardless of our position in life. That being said, I can’t help but wonder if the “chosen one” just might rue the day he called out the Supreme Court Justices at his “state of confusion” speech. The problem with fighting everyone is that you are fighting everyone. I’m just saying.