Could the Republicans Actually Repeal Health Care?

With the Republicans now in control of the House of Representatives the opportunity to repeal the health care bill official known as the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 which was passed back in March seems to be a high priority of several high ranking politicians. Since its passage in March the battle cry of the Republican Party in their Pledge to America has been to repeal the bill often aligning it with the budget claiming it adds trillions to the deficit. However, how likely is it that the Republicans will be able to repeal the bill?

Still being the minority in the Senate, as well as having a Democratic President with a veto pen, the likelihood of repealing the most important legislative pieces of Obama’s Presidency to date would be improbable and would take a major ideological shift by many member of the Democratic Party. However, the majority in the House gives the Majority Leader John Boehner the power to begin the process, "I believe that the healthcare bill that was enacted by the current Congress will kill jobs in America, ruin the best healthcare system in the world, and bankrupt our country. That means we have to do everything we can to try to repeal this bill and replace it with common sense reforms to bring down the cost of health care.”

There are many benefits to the Health Care Act which many individuals on a piece by piece basis agree with;

• Health insurance providers can not discriminate against those with pre-existing Conditions
• Children can stay on their parent’s health insurance until their 26^th birthday.
• Soon your employer (depending on how many people are on staff) will be required to provide health coverage.
• The “Doughnut Hole” in Medicare coverage will be closed.
• Tax Credits to purchase insurance if not provided by employer.
• (Depending on who you ask) The Health Care Act actually decreases the Federal deficit. The GOP argues this point despite the Bi-Partisan Congressional Budget Office finding this to be true in their report.
• Alongside the health care provisions in the bill, tied to the bill was legislation on student loans, an overall repeal of this bill would impact the provisions on student loans as well.

The press that the President has demanded for this historic bill has been limited. The President has not put sufficient outreach into letting the American people know exactly the benefits of this bill. However, even lacking sufficient PR the American people are aware of several things they are getting from this bill and for the Republican Party to take any of these benefits away from people once the take effect will be costly to their public perception. However many of these benefits do not take effect immediately, therefore there is time to remove them, perhaps under the noses of the American public.

The Republican Party ran a skillful campaign, though campaigning and governing is a completely different entity (see Obama). For the Republican Party to completely repeal the Health Care Act, they would require a majority in the House, a filibuster proof majority in the Senate (though they could prevent funding for the implementation of this bill with a simple majority) and a Republican president. The chances of all three of these things happening are slim enough, let along the time when it is actually possible isn’t until 2012 when many of these measure take effect and the GOP would figuratively be stealing candy from a baby.

The Republicans have three options going forward with health care;

1) Continue their NObama approach, and simply roadblock Congress to make the President appear as if he is the reason nothing is getting done.

2) Aim to refuse funding for the Health Care Act implementation. The Republicans do not have to repeal the bill; they simply need to refuse to fund the things that require government discretionary spending. This discretionary spending would include many things crucial to the success of the bill including the implementation and backing of the new laws, staff requirements of government agencies who would be implementing the new laws, and blocking any programs that would be created to support the new programs. (this is what the Republicans will most likely try)

3) Make serious considerations to what they want to change from the Health Care Act and work with the Democrats to pass legislation. Alongside many of the provisions included in the Health Care Act that people on a case by case basis agree with, there is also room for negotiation of reform rather than an overall repeal. There are many argument points for the Republicans (many of which are not true) that are being used to sway public opinion but also could be used as bargaining chips with the Democratic Party.

The attacks on the bill have been harsh since its passing, yet this bill lays the foundation for changes which will better the system as time progresses. These changes are what the Republicans and the Democrats need to fix, together.