Thursday, July 27, 2017

GOP Still Can't Seem To Repeal Obamacare

By Douglas V. Gibbs
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Update: After midnight the Skinny Vote amendment failed. . . once again thanks to turncoat Republicans like John McCain, and Alaska's Murkowski, and Susan Collins.  Final Tally: Yea 49, Nay 51.  Senator McConnell called it a "disappointment."

As news has spread across the country that the latest attempt to repeal Obamacare has failed, we find ourselves confused.  Isn't a full repeal the same bill the Republican easily garnered enough support for in 2015, but then Obama vetoed it (as expected)?  But now, with control of both Houses of Congress, and a GOP President, the Republicans can't bring themselves to repeal Obamacare?

Another question: Why aren't the Republicans considering Ted Cruz's ideas?

During the presidential election I was not a huge fan of Ted Cruz.  Aside from eligibility questions, I wasn't sure he had the temperance needed as the country's executive, and more specifically, if he had the chutzpah to withstand the ongoing attacks a GOP president was going to receive from the liberal left Democrats.

That said, I love the guy as a U.S. Senator; and while I am not a believer he understands the Constitution as much as he should, he understands constitutional principles heads-and-tails over most of his congressional counterparts.

Cruz's plan is less replace, and more repeal.

Obviously, there are some concerns.  In reality, full repeal is what is needed.  Any federal influence into consumer activities in an unconstitutional attempt to protect consumer interests should not be there at all.  Individuals with pre-existing conditions, included. I am not saying we should screw those people, I am saying it is none of the federal government's business.  Let the States worry about having a safety-net and using State programs to help those who can't afford insurance, or have pre-existing conditions that insurance companies won't touch.

Cruz's plan also redistributes funds between exchange plans according to the proportion of disease burden of individuals enrolled in each.  Again, none of the federal government's business.

However, that all said, Cruz and folks like Rand Paul are seeking to get the federal government out of healthcare as much as possible.  That is, indeed, the constitutional answer.

If only we can get them to realize that the Republican disease of stammering and unwillingness to vote in a way they were willing to when Obama was in office is not only unconstitutional, but will likely be what leads to many of them losing their seats in Washington D.C.


-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary

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