GOP senator: 'We only have so much power to repeal' ObamaCare

[r9etb]

Can't the GOP just defund it?  In essence that would kill it, one would think....

They can't defund it without a vote, which the Dems would filibuster forever because the GOP doesn't have the 60 votes necessary to stop it.

[sneakypete]

It didn't help that the last two GOP presidential candidates voters chose to nominate have a soft spot for it.

Trump is for it?

Seems to me I have seen him talking against Obomber Care. Am I wrong?

In that sense the GOP is getting this one right. They know that most conservatives really aren't and would turn on them if they did the right thing.

I disagree with your contention that "most conservatives really aren't (opposed to Obomber Care)".

[sneakypete]

It passed during reconciliation right? So I don't get his claim.


I'm not even in favor of a total repeal.

@Weird Tolkienish Figure

Neither am I.  I am just opposed to the current scheme,and scheme it is. There HAS to be a better way to insure health care for all American citizens.

[Bigun]

They can't defund it without a vote, which the Dems would filibuster forever because the GOP doesn't have the 60 votes necessary to stop it.

I beg to differ!

On any matter of appropriation the House can say NO! and if they stick to that the money will NEVER be in the budget!

[truth_seeker]

Did anyone actually read what he said?  Repealing some parts will require the votes needed to overcome a filibuster, i.e., 60 votes, and since the GOP doesn't have 60 votes in the Senate some democrats would have to go along, which is unlikely.  Thus, since that's unlikely, he is exactly correct that the GOPs ability to repeal Obastardcare root and branch is limited. 

That's simply a matter of fact, not a cop-out.

Then change the Senate rules. Play hardball, just like the dems have done all along.

2009: Obama said he would consider the GOP ideas, but told the assembled Republicans that "elections have consequences" and "I won."

[geronl]

They have all the power.

It was passed by a bare majority and can be repealed the same way.

[Taxcontrol]

Methinks he is confusing "power" with "backbone"

[INVAR]

They can't defund it without a vote, which the Dems would filibuster forever because the GOP doesn't have the 60 votes necessary to stop it.

McConnell can change the rules as Reid did and was so fond of doing.

But The Post Turtle won't - because he favors big government Statism and the 'system's' integrity unbesmirched by less Statism.

[montanajoe]

Can't the GOP just defund it?  In essence that would kill it, one would think....

Won't stop mandated coverage, elimination of life time caps. Things like elimination of the donut hole for seniors will be very hard to defund even with 51 votes...

[bolobaby]

Pu**ies. The whole lot.

[r9etb]

Won't stop mandated coverage, elimination of life time caps. Things like elimination of the donut hole for seniors will be very hard to defund even with 51 votes...

There's no talking sense with some of these folks. 

[montanajoe]

There's no talking sense with some of these folks.

Some would rather be told what they want to hear than the truth.... which accounts for the existence of TOS and DU and many more...

[Fishrrman]

In Heaven wrote (regarding obamacare):
"Sounds fair.  I mean, it took 60 votes to pass it, right?"

Do I not recall correctly that the entire ACA "obamacare" law -- all 2000+ pages of it -- was passed with only a majority vote (no filibuster)?
By virtue of a "sleight of hand" by Harry Reid?

I agree with "change the rules"
Nuke the filibuster, once and for all time.
I'm willing to live with the consequences.
Actually, I believe the filibuster "goes against the grain" of the Constitution, which specifically mentions those instances in which a supermajority is required in Congress.
But that's just me.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

In Heaven wrote (regarding obamacare):
"Sounds fair.  I mean, it took 60 votes to pass it, right?"

Do I not recall correctly that the entire ACA "obamacare" law -- all 2000+ pages of it -- was passed with only a majority vote (no filibuster)?
By virtue of a "sleight of hand" by Harry Reid?

I agree with "change the rules"
Nuke the filibuster, once and for all time.
I'm willing to live with the consequences.
Actually, I believe the filibuster "goes against the grain" of the Constitution, which specifically mentions those instances in which a supermajority is required in Congress.
But that's just me.

Thought it was passed in reconciliation?

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

In Heaven wrote (regarding obamacare):
"Sounds fair.  I mean, it took 60 votes to pass it, right?"

Do I not recall correctly that the entire ACA "obamacare" law -- all 2000+ pages of it -- was passed with only a majority vote (no filibuster)?
By virtue of a "sleight of hand" by Harry Reid?

That's the way I remember it.  My comment was pure sarcasm.

[Smokin Joe]

GOP senator: 'We only have so much power to repeal' ObamaCare
By Max Greenwood - 02/03/17 10:09 AM EST

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) is warning that the GOP can only do so much to repeal ObamaCare, downplaying lawmakers' ability to completely dismantle the law.

“We only have so much power to repeal certain elements of ObamaCare through reconciliation — 51 votes — the taxes, the subsidies,” Johnson told CNN on Friday morning.

“So many of the market reforms — I would call them the market distortions — that have caused premiums to skyrocket and out-of-pocket maximums and deductibles to skyrocket, those are probably going to need 60 votes. And it doesn’t sound like the Democrats are really willing to bear the responsibility of the mess they created.”

more
http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/317733-gop-senator-republicans-only-have-so-much-power-to-repeal-elements-of

Well, there is only "so much" Obamacare, so that should be sufficient to eliminate it completely. Get 'er done or face the angry voters in the primary.