McConnell Says Full Health Law Repeal ‘Not In The Cards’ Even If GOP Controls The Senate
Although there's uncertainty about what would be included on a Republican-controlled Senate's to-do list, The Washington Post notes that the outcome of this election will have a significant impact on the health law's future direction.
The Washington Post's Wonkblog:
Why Obamacare Still Matters In This Election
Although the politics of Obamacare have cooled down this year — and even with declining interest in this year's midterms — the upcoming election will have a bigger influence on the direction of health care than you may think. That's the major takeaway from a new Harvard University analysis of 27 public opinion polls from 14 organizations on President Obama's signature law. The analysis, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, offers a pretty comprehensive view of how the Affordable Care Act — less than a year into its major coverage expansion — will shape the agenda for the next Congress and potentially the 2016 presidential race. (MIllman, 10/29)
NBC News:
Uncertainty Reigns With Less Than A Week Until Midterms
On Fox News yesterday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell -- who is hoping to become Majority Leader Mitch McConnell -- admitted that full repeal of the Affordable Care Act isn’t in the cards if the GOP takes control of the Senate. (Todd, Murray and Dann, 10/29)
CQ Healthbeat:
McConnell: Obamacare Repeal Not Happening Anytime Soon
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says Republicans won’t be able to repeal Obamacare anytime soon. Tempering the expectations of conservatives a week before the elections that could install him as the first Republican majority leader in eight years, the Kentucky Republican said in a Fox News interview Tuesday that a repeal of the health care law simply wasn’t in the cards for now. (Lesniewski, 10/29)
And Politico reports that there's more trouble ahead for the Republican legal challenge to President Barack Obama's use of constitutional powers -
Politico:
More Turmoil For House GOP Lawsuit Against Obama
House Speaker John Boehner’s still-unfiled lawsuit against President Barack Obama for exceeding his constitutional power is in more trouble. For the second time in two months, a major law firm has backed out of an agreement to pursue the case, sources say. ... Boehner’s office also suggested the suit, which planned to challenge Obama’s failure to implement aspects of his health care reform law, could be broadened if Obama goes forward, as promised, with plans for executive action on immigration. (Gerstein and Haberman, 10/29)
