DSCC: Ahead of Anniversary, Senate Republicans' Pledge to Overturn ACA Would Spike Health Care Costs & Jeopardize Coverage Protections for Pre-Existing Conditions

WASHINGTON, March 22 -- The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee issued the following news release:

Ahead of the twelve-year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) this week, Senate Republicans are once again pledging to overturn the law - spiking health care costs and jeopardizing coverage protections for millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions.

See for yourself:

Washington Post: Sen. Ron Johnson says Obamacare should be repealed if GOP wins power back

* Sen. Ron Johnson said he wants to see the GOP repeal the Affordable Care Act.

* The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the party's Senate campaign arm, seized on Johnson's comments..., accusing him of "pushing the agenda of the ultra-rich and big corporations."

* "Voters are learning exactly what Republicans will do with a Senate majority, in their own words: raise taxes on seniors and working families, end Medicare and Social Security -- and once again try to spike the cost of health care while ripping away coverage protections from Americans with pre-existing conditions," DSCC spokeswoman Amanda Sherman-Baity said in a statement.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Ron Johnson signals Republicans should repeal and replace Obamacare if the party retakes control in 2024

* U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson signaled Monday that if Republicans regain control of Congress this year... they should again try to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

* Johnson has been a staunch foe of Obamacare since launching his political career.

* White House spokesperson Jen Psaki also posted a critical tweet: "Senate Republicans have a plan to gut health care, raise premiums, and strip protections for pre-existing conditions. They also want to raise taxes on half of Americans, including seniors and working families. Don't take my word for it, listen to @SenRickScott and @SenRonJohnson."

POLITICO: Ron Johnson, one of the most vulnerable GOP senators, is chiming in on the Republican agenda disagreement triggered by Rick Scott.

* Even as Sen. Rick Scott's (R-Fla.) governing agenda rankles his party and offers ammunition to Democrats, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said it was "totally appropriate" to roll it out in a Monday Breitbart radio hit.

* Johnson is facing one of the tightest reelection contests in the country.

* One thing Johnson wants to do? Circle back to repealing Obamacare. Johnson blamed Republican leaders for failing to repeal and replace Obamacare during Donald Trump's presidency, but suggested he wanted to try again.

Washington Post (Opinion): Senate Republicans might help Democrats keep the majority

* Now Sen. Ron Johnson...has confessed that Republicans still want to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

* To millions of Americans who have benefited from subsidized health insurance premiums, Johnson's message amounts to: Tough luck.

CNN: Republicans are their own worst enemy in the push for the majority

* Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson has caused a stir by suggesting... that Republicans would work to repeal the Affordable Care Act if they retake power in Washington.

* That would be a very big deal!

* Taking the ACA away -- or even talking about taking it away -- then is politically unwise.

* The problem for Johnson -- and for McConnell and other members of Republican leadership -- is that Johnson initially said what he said, which sounded a whole lot like Republicans would work to repeal and replace Obamacare if they were in the Senate majority.

* It's the latest problem for McConnell caused by members of his own conference, a series of self-inflicted wounds that give Democrats some hope.

MSNBC: Why Ron Johnson's new rhetoric on 'Obamacare' repeal matters

* Just four years ago, Democrats won back the House majority in large part by focusing on Republican efforts to take health security away from tens of millions of families. Johnson, unprompted, opened the door to having that same election-year debate once more.

* It was easy to imagine other GOP senators being pressed to respond to Johnson's rhetoric, putting all Republicans in an awkward position.

* Republicans do not want an election-year fight over health care -- because it is a fight the GOP would lose.

Axios: Johnson: GOP should be ready to repeal Obamacare if they take control in 2024

* Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said in an interview Monday that the GOP should repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.

* Johnson told the Breitbart News Daily podcast on Monday that Republicans need to "get our act together" for the 2024 election so they can "make good on what we've established as our priorities."