GOP Senators Denounce Healthcare Bill; Rep. McConnell Calls for “Repeal Now, Replace Later”
The defection of two more GOP Senators from supporting a replacement bill to do away with Obamacare, has put the future of the proposed Better Care Act, on shaky ground indeed. This past Monday night, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) joined the list of GOP Senators who have spoken out against the proposed Obamacare replacement. The reality is that without these two Senator’s support, the Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell can’t even bring the bill up for a vote. Leader McConnell announced the defeat of the proposed replacement bill — and tweeted an official statement yesterday.
But even with this setback, it appears that the fight is not over just yet. Another option still remains on the table: “Repeal Now, Replace Later..” What exactly does that mean?
As Senate Majority Leader McConnell put it, explaining “Repeal Now, Replace Later”: “So, in the coming days, the Senate will vote to take up the House bill with the first amendment in order being what a majority of the Senate has already supported in 2015 and that was vetoed by then-President Obama: a repeal of Obamacare with a two-year delay to provide for a stable transition period to a patient-centered health-care system that gives Americans access to quality, affordable care.”
The Senate will attempt to repeal the regulations, mandates, taxes, and spending, that the Affordable Care Act imposed on the health care industry. The new strategy is to then put the country on a health care countdown two years, in the hope that Congress can come together in that time on a health care bill.
Do you agree with the President, and with Senate Leader Mitch McConnell’s plan — and is it a great idea to get rid of Obamacare, without waiting around for a replacement bill? One important note is that a plan like this will leave insurance companies in the dark about the future of the industry. They will most likely completely opt ut of government healthcare marketplaces, and as a whole, the healthcare industry may suffer from great uncertainty. Is ending Obamacare right now our best option?
Or is repealing Obamacare, while the nation still is without a clear policy path for the future, hazardous to our health?