Republicans Quietly Admit There Will Be No Obamacare Replacement

[herding cats]

The history of the development of the Republican alternative to Obamacare since the beginning of the health-care debate, in 2009, has been an endless loop of loud promises that a full plan will be announced soon, followed by quiet admissions that it will not. Seventeen days ago, Donald Trump promised a vote to repeal the law “probably some time next week” with a vote for a replacement “very quickly or simultaneously, very shortly thereafter.” At a meeting in Philadelphia yesterday, Trump and his House Republican allies produced no agreement on a plan. If there is a consensus, it is that there will be no replacement plan at all.

Representative Greg Walden, a key leader of the House Republican efforts on health care, tells Julie Rovner, “There’s no single fix. There’s no single plan.” Representative Marsha Blackburn touted bills to limit medical malpractice lawsuits and to allow the sale of state-regulated insurance across state lines. Neither of these proposals would have any significant impact on insurance coverage. If Obamacare is repealed, this would leave the individual-health-insurance market a smoldering crater.

Republicans are portraying the lack of a plan as a philosophical aversion to lengthy legislation. “If you’re waiting for another 2,700-page bill to emerge, you’re going to have to wait until the sun doesn’t come up, because that’s not how we’re going to do it,” says Walden. You may not need 2,700 pages of legislative text. But you can’t blow up the health-care system and replace it with a series of piecemeal measures. Any real plan to provide even crappy coverage — let alone the better, more affordable coverage Trump has repeatedly promised — is going to need to be paid for. Making those trade-offs means figuring out some big-picture strategy for where the money will come from.


The reason health-care reform is done by assembling a big bill with a high page count is that all the stakeholders want to know beforehand whether the final product will be acceptable to them. Hospitals or insurers or doctors or drug makers might be willing to accept provisions that hurt their bottom line if there are other provisions that help them. But they won’t support passing a bill that hurts them on the promise of getting help in a future bill, because they don’t know whether the future bill will pass. Going step by step is a talking point, not a plausible way to actually write laws.

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/01/gop-quietly-admits-there-will-be-no-obamacare-replacement.html

[Buckeye_Democrat]

1. FDR understood Republicans...

[mopinko]

6. that's a fantastic clip. thanks.

had to put it on my fb. they have never changed their spots. they will never change their spots.

[onethatcares]

13. great clip,

can it be burned to a CD for play in an automobile?

where and how can it be done if possible?

[Action_Patrol]

21. Just put the YouTube link in. Pretty simple

http://convert2mp3.net/en/

[flying rabbit]

30. Sweet!

Thanks!

[JDC]

24. Saved. Thanks

[workinclasszero]

37. FDR nailed the bastards good

The scum republicans have not changed one iota since then either!

[ffr]

2. So what the KGOP is saying is they're screwing us and die.

[herding cats]

8. At least their core message has remained consistent.

I've got to give them that much.

[Wounded Bear]

3. Surprise, surprise, surprise...

Gee, I think "some people" have been saying this for about 7 years now. They got nothing.

One note: one big reason that the bill was so big and cumbersome is that it connects so many different things already going on, so there are cross references to hundreds of other laws that have to be defined and explained.

[madokie]

5. medicare for all

would be so simple

[crosinski]

25. Yep. Woulda, shoulda, coulda.

I still think Medicare for all would be the simplest thing. I suppose there's no chance in hell under repugs, but a tiny overly optimistic voice in my head keeps chirping, 'it took Nixon to go to China.' Sometimes I hate that sunny little voice.

[Fast Walker 52]

14. my reaction exactly

[workinclasszero]

4. So it begins..Repealing the Affordable Care Act will kill more than 43,000 people annually

Repealing the Affordable Care Act will kill more than 43,000 people annually
The impact of Republicans' war on Obamacare is likely to be worse than anyone expects.
By David Himmelstein and Steffie Woolhandler January 23

https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2017/01/23/repealing-the-affordable-care-act-will-kill-more-than-43000-people-annually/?utm_term=.a2e6751e33d8

[dalton99a]

17. Annually. For comparison, ISIS has killed a total of 100 Americans max.

[workinclasszero]

22. Exactly!

We spend billions to protect our citizens from foreign terrorists while the domestic republican reich wings hands are dripping with the blood of innocent poor Americans.

40,000 plus a year is just for starters. The republicans are just getting warmed up!

[smirkymonkey]

31. I am sick to my stomach. This reality is worse than anything I could have

imagined. I really didn't think they could be this evil. I was wrong. So many people are going to suffer because of their greed and hatefulness.

[Jim Beard]

41. Oh kind person, I have witnessed them almost 70 years. At least you were ....................

suspicious and not a gullible fool like many.

[DetlefK]

7. But but but... Trump promised the bestest healthcare ever!

[workinclasszero]

10. (If you are rich)

His fans fell for the con. And all all that sat home and couldn't be bothered to vote. And those green folks too pure to vote for Hillary.

Now many will pay with their lives and their children will as well.

Elections have consequences as all of America is soon going to see.

[DetlefK]

11. An anecdote on "too pure to vote for Hillary":

Russel Brand did an interview 1-2 years ago. It was about politics, society, how to engage young people...

Russel Brand is a liberal. And he's uncompromising. And he demanded that people stop making compromises when it comes to politicians. So, his suggestion was, rather than voting for a flawed candidate, people should not vote at all. The politician of your dreams or nothing.

[workinclasszero]

12. So 40,000 plus a year will die

for that philosophy.

And the republicans are just getting warmed up.

[DetlefK]

29. Oh come on! Trump and Clinton were both establishment candidates.

Old white billionaire? Railing against immigrants? Making sexist jokes? What is more "establishment" than that???

The only difference was that Trump played to fear, to "the good old days", while Clinton played to community, "the future". And the voters picked the past over the future.

[oasis]

34. "We missed the boat"? No, not "we". I voted for Hillary.

Juvenile malcontents who did not vote, or voted to "send a message" by voting for anyone else, need to look in themselves the mirror.

[Akamai]

18. Screw him and the horse he rode in on! "The perfect is the enemy of the good" and Hillary was very,

very good!

What a jerk! Same with Susan Sarandon.

[Nedsdag]

33. So Susan should be deported along with Viggo Mortensen?

They are only two people. What was the excuse for those who voted Libertarian or not at all?

[Akamai]

38. Not deported, but certainly their political advice is very dismissable in the future.

[Vinnie From Indy]

27. Russell Brand....LOL!

Really? He is a third rate washed up has been.

[Denzil_DC]

45. Brand had second thoughts about that:

Russell Brand changes mind about voting and urges support for Labour

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/04/russell-brand-changes-mind-about-voting-and-urges-support-for-labour

[bdamomma]

28. yea sure

all Americans will be covered with dirt, horrible to say but true.

Keep on sending those post cards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ok no healthcare you won't get re-elected
Would that work for them?

[ffr]

9. It's going to be really really great.

Oh really? How?

*** crickets ***

[Fast Walker 52]

15. Republicans are psychokillers

not even an exaggeration

[Initech]

16. Fuck them all!!!

[Cosmocat]

19. What the idiots genuinely don't understand is they are repealing their god damned plan

which is why they never have and never will have a replacement ...

[Bengus81]

20. Yep,Republicans don't need a 2700 page bill,just a line or two.....

Republican Health care plan aka Cheeto Care:

Don't get sick and if you do then make sure your Health Savings account has plenty of money in it.

[forgotmylogin]

26. Obama did something that they are incapable of doing.

For that, these fucking capitalist barbarians need to leave it alone.

[MontanaMama]

32. So this morning, I had to have an ultrasound procedure at the hospital...

When I was checking in prior to the appointment, the assistant takes my insurance card and here's how it went:
Hospital Helper: "Hmm. Is this one of those internet insurance policies?"
Me: "I'm sorry, I don't know what 'internet insurance' is."
Hospital Helper: "You know, insurance that you purchase on the internet. Such as Obamacare?"
Me: "Is it significant where insurance is purchased? I'm not sure I understand your question. My policy is current."
Hospital Helper: "I'm simply asking if your insurance is Obamacare?"
Me (trying not to fucking strangle this ignoramus): "Here, let me see my card again." (she hands it back to me) "Nope, it says right here, my policy is issued by Pacific Source, not President Obama." (and I smiled sweetly).
Hospital Helper: "Because Obamacare is ending here soon, you ARE aware."
Me: "Well today is my procedure and TODAY I am covered by this plan that I purchased via the internet with MY money that I earn by being self employed. I use the Affordable Care Act website to find a policy but because I am not eligible for a subsidy, I purchase it straight from the insurance company. Regardless, it shouldn't matter where the insurance is purchased FROM as long as it is current ."
Hospital Helper: "Oh, I'm sorry. The insurance purchased through the ACA isn't ending soon. Just the Obamacare."

Got my ultrasound completed. Got dressed and asked to see this person's supervisor. True story. Still shaken by this interaction.

[Dave Starsky]

35. I hope the supervisor worked it out.

This is obviously either a completely new or very poorly trained employee.

[MontanaMama]

36. The supervisor was livid. This is a long time employee of the hospital.

Not sure how it was all handled on their end but I received a very apologetic phone call from the supervisor an hour ago and a 20% discount on my bill.

I think it is indicative of the commonplace ignorance of the ACA/Obamacare being the same damned thing.

[Dave Starsky]

43. I'm glad to hear that everything worked out

So it sounds like a training issue.

I think your post illustrates that it's always important to ask for the supervisor. I know a lot of people joke about doing that, but if it's your health on the line, do it!

[bdamomma]

40. This will be the end

of the republican party.

[MontanaMama]

46. Oh sweet jeezus I hope so bdamomma

At least the Republican Legion of Assholes is squirming over their decision to repeal the ACA hand in hand with defunding Planned Parenthood. They clearly know they will be tarred and feathered on social media. There are a few rats that sound like they might not stay aboard the sinking ship. This article states they are "fretting"...they are doing a bit more than that.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/behind-closed-doors-republican-lawmakers-fret-about-how-to-repeal-obamacare/2017/01/27/deabdafa-e491-11e6-a547-5fb9411d332c_story.html?utm_term=.f65b9703feb1

[Kingofalldems]

42. Put the ads back on, Traitor trump.

[Cha]

44. Quietly? They're not shouting their vicious lying, stupidity from

the rooftops?

I feel so bad for the People who are benefitting from Obamacare.

Thank you, herding cats.