Should the GOP repeal Obamacare? | The Tylt

The GOP spent years calling for the repeal of Obamacare, but since taking control of both the House and Senate, following through on that promise has proven more difficult than expected. 

Jill Lawrence argues in USA Today it is time for Republicans to give up on their ideological crusade, but acknowledges the GOP faces the challenge of appearing to be unable to govern once fully in control.

When an entire political party has campaigned and won for seven years on getting rid of a law that was about as popular as President Trump (as in not very), it’s hard to move on. We get that. And who would have thought the country would change its collective mind, just when Republicans won control of the whole government?

Still, Lawrence points out the evidence just isn't on their side. The new Graham-Cassidy repeal bill is likely to get a poor CBO score, and would significantly cut funding to Medicare and Medicaid among other things.

Yet now, like some Dickensian ghost of health battles of the past 25 years, comes the spectral coda: the repeal bill known as Graham-Cassidy. Among other things, by 2026 it cuts one-third of the money now going to help low-income people get Medicaid or afford private insurance; increases what insurers can charge older people, eliminates requirements that people buy coverage and that large employers offer it; gives states control over a shrinking pot of health dollars, and redistributes the money so some states get a lot less.

While commitment to ideology seems to be motivating Republicans to continue their repeal attempts, Lawrence believe it is ultimately an impossible battle to win.

The repeated rise of health care repeal out of the ashes is a sad demonstration that evidence can’t compete with ideology and special-interest money.

But Andy Puzder argues in Real Clear Politics that Republicans must repeal and replace Obamacare while they still can. As a growing number of Democrats endorse Bernie Sanders' Medicare for All bill, Puzder asserts Republicans, in fact, have a "far better alternative" in following through on their promise to repeal Obamacare.

Progressive Democrats want to create a government run—enormously expensive—single payer health care system to replace ObamaCare. Predictably, they choose to address the problems an expansive government program created by further expanding government. That is not the answer. The only effective way to reduce insurance costs and improve quality is through competition.

Senate Republicans have a far better alternative. Their recently revised bill would decrease government control while increasing private sector competition, substantially repealing and vastly improving ObamaCare.

Puzder maintains the American people elected representatives who promised to repeal and replace Obamacare, and President Trump is also eager to get the job done.

No Obamacare replacement will work unless it reduces costs. This requires a more competitive free market approach. The Senate bill employs that approach. The House has already passed a bill that contains similar provisions. The American people voted to repeal and replace ObamaCare in the last election. We have a President eager to do so. It’s time for Republican Senators to step up and put a bill on his desk.

President Trump has put continued pressure on Congressional Republicans to repeal Obamacare and keep their promise to the American people.

And President Trump has voiced support of the Graham-Cassidy repeal bill.

But critics have been outspoken in their opposition to an Obamacare repeal, and believe it's time Republicans throw in the towel on potentially taking healthcare away from millions of people.

Still, many Republicans are standing by the Graham-Cassidy repeal bill.