A Year Later, Democrats See House Republicans’ Gleeful Repeal Victory As Political Gift
Republicans in the House shoved through a repeal bill a year ago, capping the day with a Rose Garden celebration. The measure ultimately failed in the Senate. While Republican lawmakers say they don't regret their vote, some Democrats plan on using the issue as a talking point in the coming midterm elections. Meanwhile, former HHS Secretary Tom Price walks back his remarks on the individual mandate.
The New York Times:
On Anniversary Of House Obamacare Repeal, Democrats Look To Extract A Price
A year ago Friday, Representative Claudia Tenney of New York stood among dozens of enthusiastic colleagues in the Rose Garden to celebrate passage of a bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. When President Trump made his way onstage, Ms. Tenney clapped and smiled. On this not-so-happy anniversary, a Democratic “super PAC” is on the air with a television commercial reminding her constituents of a repeal vote that Republicans were once convinced would be a political winner. Ms. Tenney’s Democratic challenger, Anthony Brindisi, a state assemblyman, said health care is consistently one of the top issues in a vast district that runs from Lake Ontario through Utica and Rome to the Pennsylvania border. (Kaplan, 5/2)
The Hill:
Price Walks Back Warning On ObamaCare Individual Mandate
Former Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price on Wednesday walked back comments he made predicting repealing ObamaCare’s individual mandate would drive up insurance costs. In a statement, Price said his remarks at Tuesday’s World Health Care Congress were taken out of context. (Weixel, 5/2)
Politico:
Tom Price Walks Back Remarks On Mandate Repeal
“Repealing the individual mandate was exactly the right thing to do. Forcing Americans to buy something they don’t want undermines individual liberty as well as free markets,” Price said in a statement through the Job Creators Network, a pro-business group for which he is a health care fellow. “The only fair and effective way to bring down healthcare costs is to allow markets to create more choices for consumers and small businesses.” (Pradhan, 5/2)
CQ:
Former HHS Secretary Walks Back Criticism Of End To Mandate Fee
In a statement on Wednesday, Price said that “repealing the individual mandate was exactly the right thing to do.” He said his remarks at the conference were meant to convey “how repealing the mandate would affect certain populations in the absence of additional reforms, like the expansion of Association Health Plans and other measures that use market forces to drive down costs.” (Siddons, 5/2)
