Trump said to favor move that could destabilize Obamacare
Source: Politico
By JOSH DAWSEY , JENNIFER HABERKORN and PAUL DEMKO 05/19/2017 03:06 PM EDT Updated 05/19/2017 03:11 PM EDT
President Donald Trump has told advisers he wants to end payments of key Obamacare subsidies, a move that could send the health law's insurance markets into a tailspin, according to several sources familiar with the conversations.
Many advisers oppose the move because they worry it will backfire politically if people lose their insurance or see huge premium spikes and blame the White House, the sources said. Trump has said that the bold move could force Congressional Democrats to the table to negotiate an Obamacare replacement. Lawyers and other administration officials are trying to thread the needle.
Trump told aides in a Tuesday Oval Office meeting that he wants to end the payments to insurers, according to people familiar with his comments. Trump has previously expressed conflicting opinions on the issue. Insurers have been pressing for certainty as they plan for next year.
Estimated at $7 billion for this year, the payments go to insurance companies to reduce deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs for low-income consumers — an estimated 7 million people in 2017. Insurers are on the hook under the health law to keep paying even if the federal money stops.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/19/donald-trump-end-payments-obamacare-subsidies-238616
= new reply since forum marked as read
That's administrative under the purview of the Executive Branch (IRS).
Congress passed the Affordable Care Act, and the US Supreme Court confirmed the legality of the Affordable Care Act taxation scheme.
There is no way these payments are considered "optional" to THIS administration.
What a crock! 
