Republicans will never repeal the Affordable Care Act.

[blueclown]

We hear all of the usual right-wing talking points about the need to repeal the President's signature health care initiative. Hell, sometimes we even hear that from the far left of our side. However, there are several reasons why repealing the President's health care bill will not happen: 1) Parts of the ACA are tremendously popular, and the GOP would be committing political suicide by wanting to repeal the Age 26 rule, the medical loss ratio rule, the inability to insurers to block people with pre-existing conditions, the no co-pays for preventive care, etc 2) Repealing the entire health care bill will never reach cloture in a Senate filibuster 3) The Supreme Court will decide the constitutionality of the mandate first before a GOP Congress has the opportunity to pass any repeal legislation (if one such exists in 2013)

The constant talk of repealing the health care law is just pie-in-the-sky radical idealism, and I hope the eventual GOP nominee is called out on it in the general election by the press and the president

Is it too much to ask for for the President to campaign on this accomplishment, no matter how flawed the coverage expansions for insurance companies are? This is a plan that can be built on! None of us think that this was a perfect plan, as passed. But a future Democratic Congress can attempt to pass a public option and build upon the positive aspects of the bill, many of which I enumerated above. For the last few years, the Affordable Care Act has been dangling like a pinata, awaiting major implementation in 2014. During this time, the Tea Party and parts of the far left have criticized this bill, letting popular opinion be swayed. The President needs to make this major domestic accomplishment a huge part of the 2012 campaign.

[karynnj]

1. You make an excellent case

Not to mention, any state can create a state level "public option" or even join with others to have a regional "public option. Vermont already wants to have state wide single payer. It would be easier to move the nation with working state level examples greatly reducing the costs AND improving satisfaction.

The key things the legislation did was to create the structure and to pass the tapered subsidies for a wide range of people who have income above the Medicaid level.

[tritsofme]

2. I disagree.

If Republicans sweep in 2012, they will repeal the ACA.

Most of the law's benefits do not kick in until 2014, they could conceivably keep some of the most popular portions (Age 26) and gut the rest. This law as a whole is extremely unpopular, to think that Republican candidates will be punished for opposing it is silly.

They will not need 60 votes for cloture, the ACA could be torn to shreds through Reconciliation.

And there is nothing positive about the SCOTUS decision for ACA supporters. Either the law we dutifully enacted is allowed to stand, or it gets a big hole punched in it by the Court. All the upside is with opponents of the law.

However if Obama manages to win reelection and the law is implemented, it will never go away.

[blueclown]

8. Is the Affordable Act truly "extremely unpopular"?

Or is that just the right-wing traditional wisdom, which has oddly reached its way to the shores of Democratic Underground...

What parts of the ACA could be "torn to shreds" with reconcilation?

[tritsofme]

9. The polling data is pretty clear on the point

Lots of popular elements, overall an unpopular bill. Most people see no real benefit until 2014.

I'm posting on the fly here from my phone, but Reconcillation could turn the law into Swiss cheese. The funding mechanisms, exchange subsidies, ect would all be vulnerable in Reconcillation. The non-budgetary regulations would be safe, but the law would be basically unworkable.

[bowens43]

3. You make the mistake of thinking that republican voters are reasonable

people who will think about this is a logical manner. If there is a republican majority in both the house and senate after the 2012 election and by some miracle a republican president, it will be repealed. You also assume a filibuster, Dems will not filibuster.



You also have to realize that as we have seen over last couple of years, republican elected officials don't care what the American people think or want.

[COLGATE4]

4. +1

[CTyankee]

5. You have confirmed what I have strongly suspected for some time now.

repuke congressmen don't bother listening to the folks back home once they have enough of an inside track in Washington to go a cushy job as a lobbyist for some industry. They don't want to work in Congress! It's too much work! As a lobbyist they can pull down a huge salary, ride around in luxury cars, wine and dine in the best restaurants and give the finger to their "constituents" back home! Why should they give a shit?

[Tippy]

6. Congress is just a steping stone......Lobbing is definately the prize

[elocs]

7. Never say "never". It's a good way to get bitten in the ass and to eat crow. n/t

[GeorgeGist]

10. AFFORDABLE?

Do the math.