Philip Klein of the Washington Examiner explains why conservatives need to do more than just push for repeal of the Affordable Care Act.
For nearly five years, Republicans have been fighting to repeal President Obama’s healthcare law.
But repeal is not enough.
Even if simple repeal were politically obtainable, Americans would still be left with a broken healthcare system. Government regulations would still be stifling competition and individual choice and government healthcare programs would still be driving the nation’s unsustainable long-term debt problem.
If Republicans achieved repeal without agreeing on a way to reform healthcare along free market lines, it’s inevitable that Democrats would eventually lead another overhaul of the system that would grant even more power to the federal government than the Affordable Care Act does. This would gradually morph the system into a full single-payer program.
Republicans have been unable to unite around an alternative approach on healthcare so far. But this year, there are several factors that could force their hand.
The GOP now has full control of Congress, giving the party more power to set the policy agenda.
Additionally, the Republican presidential campaign will provide an opportunity for leading figures within the party to hash out ideological differences when it comes to healthcare policy.
Adding further urgency is that a Supreme Court decision expected by late June could invalidate Obamacare subsidies for millions of Americans. If Republicans don’t have an alternative ready, congressional leaders will be under tremendous pressure to pass a simple “fix” that would allow the subsidies to continue to flow, thus further entrenching Obamacare before a Republican president theoretically is able to act in 2017.
For these reasons and many others it’s important for Republicans to unite around an alternative to Obamacare. But that is easier said than done.
