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.”
Well if you can’t handle the job get the hell out!
Rand, I’m turning back my clock on you! You simply are not Presidential material.
I guess you forgot that he wanted to take all foreign aide down to zero, then would renegotiate (Israel) No more funding terrorist countries.
I really do hope that Perry runs again. I agree that Cruz is doing a great job where he is now, I really like him.
Nope, I remember. It ain’t enough. I do not need Rick to tell me if my grade schooler needs sex vaccines. I want someone that cares more about the border than his cronies bank accounts and is smart enough to stay off the drugs during presidential debates.
No thank you. He failed badly. There are 300,000,000 million people in America. I assure you many of them are available and better choices without his baggage.
Paul, You Are a damn traitor!
IMHO it would be very smart to give him a second look.
IMNSHO people who keep sticking tongues to frozen lamp posts deserve the hell they bring on themselves.
IMNSHO there is no frozen lamp posts. But that was cute
At least he is giving up now, so we can all see that he is not presidential material.
Nor leadership material of any kind.
Not that I ever suspected he was.
Sure there is. People keep inflicting the pain on themselves with failed candidates over and over. Why? Lamp post, hitting yourself with a hammer...WHY? Because it feels so good when they stop? Is it some form of victim gratification thing?
I am totally serious here. WHY in the name of God out of 300,000,000 people do supposed conservatives lather at the mouth to rehash failure?
He blew it and CONTINUES to blow it with his support for more rinos. WHY?
Easy now, I was agreeing with you and raising your comment one notch.
Good night
Cheshire Conservatism. It pops into view when needed and vanishes when it isn’t.
No answer. No problem. No shock either.
Have a nice tomorrow.
> Very disappointing whine on Rands part.
It’s tooo much work but if you could just send in one more donation we can get the job done...
By making it voluntary and allowed to remain in place you allow the thievery of the American tax payer to continue.
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