From Patriot Post: GOP Must Decide ObamaCare Policy Before SCOTUS Rules
Dan Gilmore writes
The Supreme Court could issue a ruling as early as Monday in King v. Burwell, the case regarding whether the federal government overstepped its authority in paying out subsidies to those purchasing health insurance on the federal ObamaCare exchange. The GOP has been preparing for this moment for awhile now. If the Court strikes down the subsidies, a legislative fix will be needed, and proposals have been coming in from all sides of the conservative spectrum. Sen. Ron Johnson proposed extending the subsidies to 2017, as a Republican administration may occupy the White House then. The Heritage Foundation suggested repealing the subsidies. And Rep. Paul Gosar unveiled his Premium Reduction and Insurance Market Reform Act, a bill that would end subsidies and also end regulations like the age rating restriction. Now it is up to the Republican leadership in Congress to plot a policy and strategy to enact a conservative reform to ObamaCare. Chief Executive for Heritage Action for America Michael Needham said, “A continuation of illegal subsidies will simply cover up the law’s costs while giving the impression Republicans believe subsidies are necessary for Americans to afford health insurance.” But that option is tempting GOP leadership, as Barack Obama and the Left will make a King v. Burwell fallout politically fraught.
We lean toward betting that SCOTUS will find a way to save Obamacare. However if what they do does put Obamacare on life support, or its inevitable collapse is figured out, rather than do the best thing for the American people on healthcare, repeal and replace Obamacare, we bet Republican leadership will promise repeal down the road, which will never come, and continuously vote to put band aids on it.
R Mall
