Senate Dems to Boehner: We'll block your repeal push

[ProSense]

Senate Dems to Boehner: We'll block your repeal push

By Greg Sargent

Game on!

In the first official response from Dems to the House GOP plan to repeal health reform, Senate Democrats have penned a sharply worded letter to House Speaker John Boehner vowing that repeal is a dead letter in the Senate, the Associated Press reports.

Here's a copy of the letter itself, and it's well worth reading, because it provides the first clear glimpse of how Democrats will mount their political pushback against the GOP's repeal campaign. The crux of the argument is that repeal would deprive "middle class Americans" of a major reform, i.e., the closing of the Medicare "donut hole":

The new law provides that seniors will receive a 50-percent discount on the brand name drugs that they purchase while stuck in the "donut hole" and thus will save them thousands of dollars starting in 2011. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, seniors who have high prescription drug spending will save as much as $12,300 over the next 10 years and seniors with low drug costs will save an average of $2,400 over 10 years.

This is no minor reform. But almost as soon as it has taken effect, it is already in jeopardy.

The incoming House Republican majority that you lead has made the repeal of the federal health care law one of its chief goals. We urge you to consider the unintended consequences that the law's repeal would have on a number of popular consumer protections that help middle class Americans. The "donut hole" fix is just one measure that would be threatened by a repeal effort. Taking this benefit away from seniors would be irresponsible and reckless at a time when it is becoming harder and harder for seniors to afford a healthy retirement.

If House Republicans move forward with a repeal of the health care law that threatens consumer benefits like the "donut hole" fix, we will block it in the Senate. This proposal deserves a chance to work. It is too important to be treated as collateral damage in a partisan mission to repeal health care.

This is another sign that Dems view the GOP's push for repeal of reform as an opportunity of sorts. The debate sparked by the GOP's repeal push, Dems hope, will allow Dems another chance to educate the public about what's actually in the health care law, by pointing to the specific provisions that would disappear in the unlikely event that the Affordable Care Act were somehow to get repealed.

One assumes Dems will make this case about other provisions in the law, such as the restrictions on discrimation against people with preexisting conditions. More when I learn it, but for now, this is moderately encouraging -- it suggests Dems are gearing up to mount an aggressive response centered on informing the public about what's in the law by emphasizing what repeal would take away from people.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

1. Here's what I don't get about this "repeal" push.

Unless the Constitution has been amended, or I'm wrong about the procedure for overturning the president's veto, it takes a 2/3rds vote in BOTH chambers of Congress. If the Supreme Court does this, then it's one thing. But to my knowledge, the SCOTUS has refused to consider this issue from the states. If it happens, it happens in the Congress. And while the House may have the votes, the Senate does not!

[onenote]

2. its not a real repeal push, its a political ploy

the repubs hope to energize their tea party base by mounting an unsuccessful attempt to repeal health care so that they can run on that in 2012.

[11 Bravo]

3. Exactly. Those assholes have zero interest in actual governance.

It's all stagecraft to them.

[felinetta]

7. They have zero interest in anything but themselves and their rich pals.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

5. Of course. You know this. I know this. We all here on DU know this. The problem

is that the Republicans won back the House, on some level, by using this issue to get people to the polls. And the average American doesn't understand process. Hell, I continue to hear prominent Democrats in the media and commentators like Cenk blame the Democrats--because they had the majority. Doesn't he understand that in the Senate, it only takes one person to block or hold up legislation?

That seems to be the problem. The Republicans bank on the fact that most Americans are unaware of the political process or parliamentary rules and procedures. All they know is that things don't get done. They blame the party in power, regardless of process. It drives me crazy!

The Republicans know damn well that they cannot override a presidential veto, but they run on this narrative of repealing everything, hoping that the public doesn't catch on.

Without Democrats effectively fighting back and winning the messaging war, it becomes a losing battle.

[jaxx]

4. This is great, start pushing back right now.

And framing the pubs as robbers of the elderly. The same can be used to take away the kids up to age 26 staying on their parents insurance. I think the plan is going to be a pain in the ass to the repubs.

[GoCubsGo]

6. They have been doing so, in a way.

I have seen a lot of coverage regarding the aspects of the health care reform that began on the first. There has been a lot of "Really? That's in there? Wow! Great!" sort of reaction from the spokesmodels doing the interviewing. They're realizing it's not the "socialist" nightmare they've been told it is. Hopefully, the viewers are all having the same reactions.

[no limit]

8. I'm sure the republicans will now drop this because of this strongly worded letter

oh wait, I forgot, republicans aren't democrats.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Enrique]

10. limited to the donut hole

I disagree with Sargent's "one assumes Dems will make this case about other provisions in the law."

Why does one assume that? In fact this letter even sounds like a kind of green light to repeal certain aspects, as long as this one provision is left alone.