Key GOP Senator: Repealing And Replacing Obamacare Could Take Years

[DonViejo]

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) warned Thursday that it could take years to fully repeal and replace Obamacare. In an interview with reporters on Capitol Hill, Alexander said the goal of Republicans was to "be the rescue party instead of the party that pushes millions of Americans who are hanging by the edge of their fingernails over the cliff."

Alexander, the chair of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee that will play a central role in repealing and replacing Obamacare, signaled that the process will have to be incremental rather than rapid if Republicans want their plan to succeed.

Since Donald Trump was elected last week, Republicans have been clear that getting rid of Obamacare is a high priority. But actually following through may take some more time.

"Eventually, we'll need 60 votes to complete the process of replacing Obamacare and repealing it because Obamacare was not passed by reconciliation it was passed by 60 votes. And it was cleaned up by reconciliation because Scott Brown won his election," Alexander said. "Before the process is over, we'll need a consensus to complete it, and I imagine this will take several years to completely make that sort of transition to make sure we do no harm, create a good health care system that everyone has access to and that we repeal the parts of Obamacare that need to be repealed."

more
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/repealing-and-replacing-obamacare-will-take-time

[volstork]

1. Well, that's the only time ever

I'm even a tiny bit happy to have him as my senator.

[hibbing]

2. They don't want to replace it

This idea that they want to actually help people get access to insurance or to health care is a joke.


Peace

[geek tragedy]

3. sounds more like a plan to turn Obamacare into 50 different Romneycares

Which, ironically, was the original intent of the ACA drafters--to get states to run their own exchanges and experiment with different ways of delivering health care.

This is a LOT better than a straightforward repeal.

[cynatnite]

4. I'm guessing privatizing Medicare will be easier...

When they say incremental, they mean chipping away at it until there's nothing left.

[BeyondGeography]

5. Oh just move on to privatizing Medicare then

You can still be mean to people, GOP. Don't worry.