Repeal? Replace? Repair? GOP Lawmakers Contemplate Health Law Strategy
News outlets report that the health law challenge now pending before the Supreme Court poses a challenge for Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill, too.
The New York Times:
Health Law Case Poses Conundrum For Republicans
On the one hand, Republicans in Congress are urging the Supreme Court to strike down subsidies for health insurance provided to millions of people in more than 30 states. On the other, they are chiding the Obama administration because it has no plan to avert the hardship that could occur if they win in court. The Republicans now have realized that a court decision in their favor poses political risks to members of their party, who are frantically trying to come up with alternatives to the Affordable Care Act and a strategy to respond to such a ruling. (Pear, 2/7)
The Fiscal Times:
Despite 60 Repeals, The GOP Is Considering Repairing Obamacare
A key group of Republican leaders this week unveiled the latest attempt at an Obamacare replacement in a 9-page summary detailing what looks like a more compressed version of the current health care law. It’s an updated version of a proposal a small group of Republicans created a year ago. (Ehley, 2/8)
Modern Healthcare:
New GOP Reform Plan Rolls Back Cadillac Tax To Win Over Conservatives
Congressional Republican leaders are hoping to rally their colleagues behind a new repeal-and-replace package for Obamacare. The impetus is the King v. Burwell case pending before the U.S. Supreme Court that could strike down premium subsidies for millions of Americans in states that haven't established their own exchanges. ... Republican leaders and conservative pundits have said they needed to offer a credible plan to convince the Supreme Court justices that they don't have to worry about creating chaos in the healthcare market if they strike down the subsidies. (Demko, 2/6)
The Hill:
Chamber Of Commerce Didn't Back Obamacare Repeal Bill
When the House GOP made its latest attempt to repeal Obamacare this week, dozens of groups, from Americans for Tax Reform to the National Association of Manufacturers, cheered the move. But one organization was missing from the list of groups that had supported the bill: the Chamber of Commerce. (Ferris, 2/6)
In other Capitol Hill news -
The Wall Street Journal:
Coming Budget Poses Test For GOP
That is in large part because some spending bills have become political lightning rods, particularly those involved with the Affordable Care Act or the Dodd-Frank financial overhaul. Republicans have also sought to use spending bills to push back against White House policy, including Homeland Security funding, slated to expire on Feb. 27. Republicans are seeking to use an extension of that funding to block implementation of the president’s executive action on immigration. ... Meanwhile, Republicans will have to address a rolling series of other funding deadlines this year, including stopgap measures on Medicare, the highway trust fund and children’s health insurance. (Timiraos and Peterson, 2/8)
Dallas Morning News:
Supporters Fear Congress May Let Children’s Insurance Program Lapse
Supporters of a state-federal program providing health coverage for children of the working poor have their fingers crossed that Congress will keep it alive. Funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program expires in the fall. (Garrett, 2/7)
