*If* Romney wins (which I don't think he will)
I do not see the Republicans attempting to repeal the ACA. My reasons, worth what you paid for them (zilch) are as follows:
1) They will have no viable plan to replace it. Their plan was used as the spring board for this one, and if this isn't palatable to their base, then no plan will be. I don't think they'll attempt to repeal this act without something to insert in its place. Obstructing implementation of a potential plan is one thing, but they don't want to be known as the party that took away insurance for uninsurables and people with pre-existing conditions.
2) The bill is good for insurance companies, and companies in general. If you're an insurance company, you're loving this plan. With respect to other companies, the penalty for not providing coverage can be less expensive than providing the coverage itself, so they can divest themselves of this burden.
3) If the ACA is repealed, it takes away one of the Republican bogeymans they like to rail against, and puts the onus on them to fix it. They would rather blame the Democrats than fix anything.
If I had to guess, I'd say they attempt to tweak the plan here and there to play to their base, continue to shake their fists at the evil socialist Democrats who are thwarting their attempts to repeal, but leave it largely intact.
Disclaimer: I am no expert, and no one has ever accused me of being a deep thinker, so if anyone sees gaping holes in my theory, by all means, point them out. I try to keep an open mind, especially about complex subjects like this that have many different variables associated with them.
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2) Congress can’t repeal the full law through reconciliation. Without the necessary 60 votes in the Senate for full repeal, Republicans are pledging to use a budget reconciliation bill to undo the ACA. But this process would only apply to the budget-related elements of the law and would thus leave many portions — including the mandate — intact. As health care expert Robert Laszewski put it, “Romney could end up creating a chaotic environment driven by enormous uncertainty over just which parts of the new health care law would be implemented–for consumers, health care providers, and insurers.”
