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Trump’s Obamacare impatience challenges GOP
Trump’s Obamacare impatience challenges GOP
A quick repeal and replace of Obamacare on the
scale the president-elect outlined is complex and arduous.
Republicans can repeal much of the law on a party line vote under fast-track budget rules. But replacement require at least a handful of Senate Democrats to help dismantle President Barack Obama's historic achievement that's covering 20 million Americans. And the Republicans have to agree among themselves on a specific detailed bill, an agreement that has so far been elusive.
But a quick repeal and replace of Obamacare on the scale the president-elect outlined is complex and arduous — and politically rife for accusations that Republicans are recklessly repealing a law with scant time for debate.
On top of that, Trump indicated that his administration would introduce its own health care plan — which could either speed up the process of coalescing around a bill or drive a wedge between the Hill and the new White House. Trump didn't spell out what his plan would include.
“We're going to be submitting as soon as our secretary is approved, almost simultaneously, shortly thereafter, a plan,” Trump said in his first press conference since July. “It will be repeal and replace. It will be various segments, you understand, but will most likely be on the same day or the same week, but probably the same day. Could be the same hour.”
His chosen HHS secretary, Rep. Tom Price, hasn't had his confirmation hearing yet. The Senate Finance Committee hasn't even scheduled it. Price testifies before the Senate HELP committee next Wednesday, but Finance is the one that votes on the nomination.
The GOP currently has several different health bills and plans, and though they have some common features, lawmakers have not yet rallied around one. It's possible that Trump's proposal could be the impetus for the GOP to coalesce, said a lawmaker who didn’t want to be named. But it's not a guarantee.
Price himself is the author of one of the more detailed proposals on the Hill. It's a conservative, market-oriented plan unlikely to win over Democrats.
“Our new secretary of HHS has had a plan in his pocket now for the last three years," said Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.), who is acting as a liaison between Trump and the Hill. "If they did present an actual specific plan, that would be a much easier starting point than taking six plans or no plan and trying to start with that. … I think that would speed the process up incredibly.”
“Everyone wants to say the Republicans don’t have a plan,” said Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) “The problem is we have too many plans, and we’ve got to coalesce around one, and we’re going to.”
Trump hasn't given details of his vision for a new health law, but he has stressed such ideas as allowing people to buy insurance across state lines. He didn't say — and wasn't asked — at the news conference how long it should take to transition from Obamacare to the new plan. Many Hill Republicans have called for a two- or three-year transition.
If Republicans pursue the simultaneous repeal and replace plan, a repeal vote is unlikely to happen for at least several weeks — later than Republicans outlined as recently as a few weeks ago.
The idea of a Trump health care plan took some Republican lawmakers by surprise.
“I would welcome a plan from anybody,” said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). “I would consider any plan.”
John Cornyn (R-Texas), the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, suggested that the Hill is talking with Trump officials on the idea.
“There is already consultation with the incoming administration,” he said, calling for quick confirmation of Price “so we can interact officially. Right now, given the confirmation process, its more back channel.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is skeptical that even Trump can move legislation quite as fast as he wants.
“He needs to call [Majority Leader] Mitch McConnell,” he said with a laugh when asked if Trump’s timeline is plausible.
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