Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Possible GOP Defectors Threaten To Undermine Repeal Strategy
The Wall Street Journal: Republican Skepticism Grows Over Strategy On Health-Law Repeal
Republicans in both the House and Senate are expressing growing skepticism of their party’s approach to repealing the Affordable Care Act, signaling potential peril ahead for a strategy that relies on nearly complete GOP unity. In the House, some conservatives are balking at a budget document meant to serve as the vehicle to repeal the 2010 health law. Meanwhile, in the Senate, a growing number of Republicans are questioning the wisdom of repealing the law without knowing how they will replace it. (Peterson and Armour, 1/6)
The Associated Press: State GOP Wary As Republicans Push Repeal Of Health Law
Congressional Republicans' drive to repeal the 2010 health care law has financial and political repercussions for GOP leaders in the states and gives Democrats potential openings as they struggle to reclaim power lost during President Barack Obama's tenure. Some Republican governors, in particular, are wary about what their Washington colleagues might do with Obama's signature law, exposing a fissure in a party that has consolidated control in the nation's capital and dozens of statehouses around the country in accompaniment with President-elect Donald Trump's victory in November. (Barrow and Beaumont, 1/9)
Politico Pro: GOP Resistance Grows To Obamacare Repeal Without Replacement
A growing number of Senate Republicans are resisting the idea of repealing Obamacare without a concrete replacement proposal, complicating GOP plans to move swiftly to undo the health care law. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) started the open, intra-party dissension this week when the libertarian-leaning senator urged Republicans to vote on a replacement plan at the same time they pass a repeal bill. He was followed a day later by hardline conservative Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), then by the more centrist Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.). (Everett, 1/6)
Roll Call: Corker Concerned About Repealing Obamacare Taxes Without Replacement
Sen. Bob Corker says Republicans need to be wary of a potential “box canyon” if they repeal Obamacare without a replacement in the queue. The Tennessee Republican said Friday morning that he wants his colleagues to pay more attention to the fiscal issues with the effort to repeal Obamacare. (Lesniewski, 1/6)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Health Care Repeal Quickly Gets Messy For GOP In Congress
While Republicans have long talked about a quick repeal of the Obama health law, the first week of the 115th Congress was a fresh reminder that while the GOP is united in its opposition to Obamacare, there is no agreement on what should replace that system, as Republicans began to tussle with each other over what to do next. (Dupree, 1/7)
The Washington Post Fact Checker: Republicans Once Again Rely On A Misleading Obamacare Factoid
With the election of Donald Trump, Republican lawmakers finally have the opportunity to repeal the Affordable Care Act, a.k.a. Obamacare. As a result, we’re hearing some talking points that were debunked long ago. We’re not sure why these old chestnuts keep coming back. There are plenty of legitimate complaints one could make about the law, particularly the functioning of the Obamacare exchanges and premium-rate increases in certain states. (Kessler, 1/9)
