Congress is at it again. Trump brags he is going to make America great while signing executive orders attacking immigrants, refugees, and the environment. Meanwhile the democrats are fixated on the Trump-Russia connection. If that card is not an ace, then they have nothing.
What is the first quagmire? Obamacare, of course.
Republicans have committed to repeal and recently to repeal and replace.
Democrats are committed to improving Obamacare.
Both now agree on “pre-existing conditions” although they don’t agree on how that will be funded. Obama resorted to a mandate for everyone to get insurance or pay a tax. Republicans will push for higher copays and put pressure on the states to fund the gap between what poor people can afford and what healthcare costs. Republicans will drop mandates that forces insurance companies to offer policies that meet minimum standards.
Republicans will allow cross state competition in hopes that this will decrease insurance rates for healthcare. Republicans will also lower the amount of medicaid that it sends the states and expect them to make up the difference.
So, much of these changes posed by the Republicans could be considered improvements to Obamacare that the Democrats would reluctantly accept. A few would vote yes to these changes to balance out the no-votes from Republicans. However, Republicans will say they are repealing Obamacare and replacing it. In reality, they will be copying most of Obamacare and making some changes to make it more affordable and/or competitive.
Democrats would accept the changes if they are called “improving Obamacare” but not if it is called repealing Obamacare and replacing it.
The end product would be the same whether it is called “repeal and replace Obamacare” or if it called “improving Obamacare”. Republicans will support the first, but not the second, and visa-versa for the Democrats. Neither will have enough votes by themselves to get it passed. Stalemate.
Who loses? Americans, as usual. Both parties are broken, but Americans keep supporting these non-functional parties.
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