House Republicans made a dramatic gesture this week, condemning “Obamacare” and voting emphatically to repeal the nation’s new health care law.
It was a carnival for those who want no part of reform. House Republicans rose to decry the health care law as job-killing socialism and “cheese in a rat trap.” The excitable Joe Wilson of South Carolina exclaimed: “The liberal health care takeover destroys jobs, limits freedoms, and expands big government!”
House Republicans lined up for the chance to trash the law. But for all the gusto they displayed, Wednesday’s 245-189 vote for repeal was only for show. With the Senate and the White House in Democratic hands, repeal does not now seem a realistic goal.
Despite the best efforts of the opponents, public support seems to be shifting toward health reform. An Associated Press-GfK poll this month found that opposition has dropped to 41 percent, with 40 percent favoring the law, compared to a 47-38 percent split last November. Even among Republicans, support for repeal has dropped sharply and only a small minority favors full repeal.
The more people learn about the law, the better they like it.
The administration has persuasively argued that Americans have greater health security today than they did a year ago. Reform already prevents insurance companies from rescinding the coverage of those who become ill, or from imposing a lifetime cap on benefits. It provides tax credits for small businesses, new prescription drug help for seniors, and allows students to remain on their parents’ policies until age 26. Children can no longer be rejected by an insurer because of a pre-existing condition.
The law is designed to slow the growth of Medicare costs and health care costs overall. By controlling costs and raising taxes on top earners, the law aims to make affordable care available to nearly everyone. It is complicated and controversial and will certainly need adjustments, and perhaps significant changes, as it is phased in.
In a less partisan atmosphere, a new version might emerge from debate and compromise. But Republicans in Congress don’t have a credible approach to the health care crisis; all they have are their complaints.
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