Republicans fret over what’s to come after dumping Obamacare

Jan. 28--Panicked Republicans are privately scrambling to devise a replacement for Obamacare, suggesting they are far apart on an agreement, according to a recording of a closed-door meeting obtained by The Washington Post.

"We'd better be sure that we're prepared to live with the market we've created," said U.S. Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.), the Post reported. "That's going to be called Trumpcare. Republicans will own that lock, stock and barrel, and we'll be judged in the election less than two years away."

Congressional Republicans appear to be in doubt about the right way to replace the Affordable Care Act once they follow through on their vows to repeal it, particularly since the Trump administration has yet to produce a clear plan on what it wants in a new system.

"Our goal, in my opinion, should be not a quick fix. We can do it rapidly -- but not a quick fix," said U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.). "We want a long-term solution that lowers costs."

The Post reported that Republicans' concerns ranged from readying a plan in time to launch by repeal, avoiding damaging the health insurance market, keeping premiums low, and ducking political fallout from defunding Planned Parenthood as part of the bill.

"We are just walking into a gigantic political trap if we go down this path of sticking Planned Parenthood in the health insurance bill," said U.S. Rep. John Faso (R-N.Y.). "I think we are creating a political minefield for ourselves -- House and Senate."

___

(c)2017 Boston Herald

Visit the Boston Herald at www.bostonherald.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.