RSS FeedHeadache on horizon for GOP as it weighs health reform repeal ...
Passage of healthcare reform poses a dilemma for Republicans, with the party debating the merits of making its repeal a major campaign theme.
Lawmakers and strategists are determining the benefits of targeting President Barack Obama’s huge legislative achievement this November versus focusing more attention on what Democrats haven’t achieved — more jobs, lower unemployment and a significant improvement in the economy. Democrats have made the political calculus even more difficult by structuring the healthcare bill so the popular provisions begin immediately while significant tax impacts are delayed until 2013.
That hasn’t stopped GOP leaders, including Mitt Romney and Sen. Jim DeMint (S.C.), from strongly advocating for repeal as a major campaign theme. If they chose to focus on overturning narrow provisions of the law, those arguments are “more technical and more complicated and not prone to the sound bite — they’re not really good on a campaign poster,” Antos said.
Republicans advocating repeal will be competing with popular provisions that start immediately, while having to warn against less attractive items that voters won’t feel for some time.
“Even if Republicans scored a 1994-style landslide in November, how many votes could we muster to reopen the ‘doughnut hole’ and charge seniors more for prescription drugs?” wrote David Frum, who was a speechwriter for former President George W. Bush and has questioned the wisdom of Republicans campaigning on a repeal message. “How many votes to re-allow insurers to rescind policies when they discover a pre-existing condition? How many votes to banish 25-year-olds from their parents’ insurance coverage?”
“It’s risky to follow a repeal strategy because average Americans are going go find a number of things in the legislation they actually like; the crackdown on insurance companies will be very popular [and] closing the doughnut hole will be very popular,” said Darrell West, director of governance studies at the Brookings Institution.” REPEAL AND REPLACE!!! Common sense legislation written in 20 pages or less. No bribes required. Will be repealed in 2013, but unlike closing Gitmo in a year, this will be repealed in the first week of the new president. Hopefully bypassing normal congressional process, and using arcane rules, where memeber are bought off to vote to repeal it. Apparently its the NEW way the Dems want the government to be run. Can't wait for Nov.!!! John, wake up. Repeal in 2013. Time for you to get a life. I don't know a single person that has ever ben dropped by an insurance company. And since I work, health insurance really isn't a big deal for mosy of us workers. This whole effort was SUPPOSED to bring down costs. This bill drives all costs up insurance, delivery and taxes. Big loser of a bill. And since he jammed it thru against the will of the people, Obama is officially a lame duck president for the rest of his only term.