Posted on 04/25/2014 7:28:14 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) admitted Friday it’s “difficult to turn the clock back” on ObamaCare, but proposed making the law voluntary as a possible fix for consumers.
“I think it’s going to be difficult to turn the clock back. People get assumed and accustomed to receiving things, particularly things that they get for free,” he told a crowd of students at Harvard’s Institute of Politics on Friday.
Paul’s comments echo those of other Republicans who have admitted it will be difficult to fully repeal the law after some of its more popular provisions took effect. The potential 2016 presidential candidate said he ultimately doesn’t think repeal is possible without Republicans controlling the House, the White House and with close to 60 votes in the Senate, like Democrats had when they passed the law.
But he predicted the cost of the law could ultimately have dire effects, suggesting they could “bring down local hospitals” or hamstring state governments.
In the meantime, Paul offered a fix.
“I think one of the practical things you might be able to do, and I think the public at large might accept this, is to make ObamaCare voluntary. You make it voluntary, basically you get rid of the coercion,” he said, presumably by eliminating the penalty those without insurance are required to pay, known as the individual mandate.
He said he may keep some parts of the law, like the subsidies to help poor Americans afford insurance, or the Medicaid expansion -- two of ObamaCare's more popular provisions but potentially its more expensive.
“Does that get rid of the subsidies? Not necessarily, or the Medicaid. But I think also we’re going to find out we can’t afford to have everybody on Medicaid, we can’t afford to have everybody on subsidized insurance,” Paul said.
The Kentucky senator also railed against President Obama for the idea of the law in the first place, telling students gathered at Harvard’s Institute of Politics on Friday that Obama “says that you are not smart enough…to choose your own insurance.”
Paul, who signed up his family for insurance under ObamaCare used his son’s plan as an example. He said it includes coverage for a number of unnecessary procedures “because the president says he’s too dumb and can’t buy an individual product that would cost him a lot less and wouldn’t have as many things included.”
I think the assumption is that people are too smart—and given the choice they wouldn’t opt for all that unnecessary coverage that subsidizes everyone else.
that may be the result, but I’m fairly sure that’s not his intent.
LOL.
The interesting thing is that Rand Paul couldn't have written a better script to chase real conservatives toward a different candidate. Why?
My guess: (1) He wants Romney's donors, and (2) Like Romney, he thinks we'll have no place else to go, and he thinks he'll get libertarianish liberals.
Rand Paul’s getting squishier and squishier.
that’s because it’s going to get exponentially worse before he leaves
Cruz or bust.
So - nobody has received ANYTHING yet. And wait til they actually find out how much they won’t receive.
Love the phrase. RINO = undocumented democrat
“THE US GOVERNMENT HAS NO BUSINESS IN THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY.”
Except that Mr. and Mrs. Taxpayer are shelling out >$ 1 trillion/year for other people’s medical bills. Is it your view that taxpayers (via representatives) have no say in what happens with their $$?
I can’t take credit for it, but I’ll gladly use it ;
You may be right but since it’s the GOP, God only knows what thought process is at work. Nothing surprises me anymore.
It’s difficult to turn it back if you don’t even try.
My take on Rand is he’s first, not that brilliant. Second, he is not that fearless, he has made some strong statements, good statements, and then backed off of them. Strong statements are needed, but you have to be willing to stand your ground when you utter them.
And then there’s this, I think he wants to cobble together his paul bots, with some hard line thinking on drones and so on plus devaluing the social issues, and yet add some estab types with his statements like this. Ithink it’s gutless and a loser proposition. The estabs hate Paul, and will never support him, regardless of how much he panders to them. Meanwhile, this pandering will open the door for Cruz to get 100% of those voters who like Cruz and Paul about equally.
You know we have to stop agreeing like this CE...people are gonna talk ;)
shhhhh…….I won’t tell if you won’t…....:)
We’ll keep it on the down low ;)
Repeal it. Offer up at $10 Starbucks gift card to anyone who misses it. Problem solved.
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