After the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act Thursday, a stunned GOP establishment reacted by saying that Congress would repeal Obamacare.
“Today’s decision makes one thing clear: Congress must act to repeal this misguided law,” declared the Senate’s Republican Leader Mitch McConnell.
Perhaps it was a clarion call to the GOP based in the hope that the rank and file would be so incensed by the decision of the highest court that they would flock to Republican candidate Mitt Romney like bees to honey in November.
That indeed is their best bet to demolish the law of the land.
Congressional Republicans must know that they alone cannot undo the Affordable Care Act next year. It would be like rolling a giant rock up a steep hill. It is mere posturing.
Here’s why:
Repeal could happen if Republicans manage to get 60 seats in the Senate this fall. Chances of that happening are infinitesimal.
They will get another shot at reaching the magic number in the fall of 2014. And for a moment, let’s assume they do get there and repeal becomes a possibility in 2015.
How well would the American public, having lived under Obamacare for a whole year, react to the following message from the GOP?
People with preexisting conditions have to get used to the idea of not being covered by insurance and young people get ready to be uninsured again.
All I have to say to Congressional Republicans with the repeal message in 2015 is good luck.
By Arundhati Parmar
Arundhati Parmar is the Medical Devices Reporter at MedCity News. She has covered medical technology since 2008 and specialized in business journalism since 2001. Parmar has three degrees from three continents - a Bachelor of Arts in English from Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India; a Masters in English Literature from the University of Sydney, Australia and a Masters in Journalism from Northwestern University in Chicago. She has sworn never to enter a classroom again.More posts by Author
The SCOTUS once ruled Dred Scott too, and equally fallible and indefensible position.
A foolish notion. The ObamaCare Tax can get "unpassed" with a simple Reconciliation vote because that's how it was passed - 51 votes in the Senate. The SCOTUS ruling insured that the entire law would be repealed.
@tpaine1 ...and then obama can veto it...
I believe the Obamacare because American Medical Association agreed, Congress passed it, President signed it, now Chief Justice Roberts said it's legal; these are the smartest public servants whom I will believe in. I do believe those people WE put them in the offices now to serve all Americans interests not big Corporations. I would be ashamed as a member of U.S. Congresss because I didn't worry about millions women and men are unemployed. All Congress's energy now how to put one more person to be unemployed that is President Obama. Be honest and save us to pass laws that creating JOBS, I wouldn't careless you're red or blue, republicans or democrats, liberals or conservatives; put your egos or envies aside. I don't give a damn when our stomachs are empty, your bs do not make us feeling better one way or the other. PASS LAWS that create JOBS, don't sit on them , stand up and move the bills which may save your own jobs too. I belong to independent party and I'm glad I do.
Will you still agree "these are the smartest public servants I know" when you have to wait four months for an MRI, 6-18 months for a doctor visit, be paying an additional 15% on your income to support it or will you be like me and believe our East Coast elitists are so far removed from real life, they are incapable of governing effectively??