Ted Cruz Opposes GOP Plan To Extend Obamacare Subsidies Nixed By SCOTUS

Talking Points Memo ^ | JUNE 12, 2015, 11:05 AM EDT | TIERNEY SNEED

[SoConPubbie]

Add Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) to the list of conservatives resisting any plan that would temporarily extend Obamacare subsidies if the Supreme Court strikes them down later this month.

The 2016 GOP White House contender told Politico he would fight a Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)-endorsed proposal to extend the subsidies through 2017, when Republicans hope a Republican president would be in office to push a comprehensive alternative to Obamacare.

Many Republicans in the House have exhibited a similar skepticism to extending the subsidies. However, the Senate GOP has begun to rally around legislation by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), which would extend the subsidies on the condition that other provisions of the law -- including the individual mandate -- are repealed. Thirty-one senators have signed on to the proposal, which is believed to be a nonstarter for Democrats. Policy experts also say it is an unworkable solution.

Fearing a political blowback, Republicans are scrambling to put together a back-up plan in the case that the Supreme Court rules in favor of the challengers in King v. Burwell, a lawsuit pushed by conservative activists. The challengers argue that a phrase in the Affordable Care Act disallows the flow of federal subsidies to health care consumers in states without state-run insurance exchanges. If the court agrees, some 6.4 million people in 34 states are expected to lose their tax credits, which could have an even broader impact on the health care insurance market.

In the interview with Politico, Cruz threw his support behind the so-called "off ramp" plan, an approach offered by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and other House Republicans that would allow states to stop participating in most aspects of Obamacare.

“In a perfect world, we would take that opportunity to repeal Obamacare. At a minimum, we should allow states to opt out,” Cruz said.

[SoConPubbie]

"If we must have an enemy at the head of Government, let it be one whom we can oppose, and for whom we are not responsible, who will not involve our party in the disgrace of his foolish and bad measures." - Alexander Hamilton "We don't intend to turn the Republican Party over to the traitors in the battle just ended. We will have no more of those candidates who are pledged to the same goals as our opposition and who seek our support. Turning the Party over to the so-called moderates wouldn’t make any sense at all." -- President Ronald Reagan "A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice." - Thomas Paine 1792 "It does not take a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men." - Samuel Adams "If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen." - Samuel Adams

[SoConPubbie]

    Ted Cruz Ping!

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    Please beware, this is a high-volume ping list!

    CRUZ or LOSE!

[Jeff Chandler]

A SCOTUS ruling against BoboCare would be a golden opportunity for the Pubbies. It’s a shame they are too timid to take it.

They could chant in chorus: Look how the Democrats screwed up your healthcare.

But they won’t.

[MAexile]

However, the Senate GOP has begun to rally around legislation by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), which would extend the subsidies on the condition that other provisions of the law -- including the individual mandate -- are repealed.

Hmmmm.

Kick the legs out from under Obamacare by letting the subsidies go away or kick the legs out from under Obamacare by getting rid of the mandate?

Now that I think about it, best to do nothing. If Johnson introduces a bill, there's no guarantee that they won't try and strip out the individual mandate language.

[Redbob]

"he Senate GOP has begun to rally around legislation by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI)(RINO-WI)..."

There.
Fixed it for ya!

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Fearing a political blowback, Republicans are scrambling to put together a back-up plan in the case that the Supreme Court rules in favor of the challengers in King v. Burwell,

Why? Not one Republican in either house voted for 0bamaCare.

[xzins]

The republican plans I’ve heard have said they would do it through tax credits. Just to be honest with you, I’m not sure how that’s any different?

I know an awful lot of people who pay no income tax, but who get about 3000 bucks in credits.

I haven’t heard a single republican so, no paid income tax, then no paid ‘credit’ for healthcare.

IOW, they’re still going to give them money.

Personally, I think there are only 2 fiscally sound plans.

The best is:

1. Pay your own way. Nothing will drop the price of medical care like people having to pay for their own.

2. Medical infrastructure of clinics and hospitals similar to Army battlefield medicine. It’s more top down, but it’s predictable and maintainable like roads, bridges, and highways.

[Gaffer]

They will clamor all over themselves to make the impact of an unfair and punitive law enacted in the dead of night by rabid Democrats any easier, they should begin with the position a poison syringe was doled out for every patient throughout this country. The poison still remains and there isn’t any amount of fix or change or alteration outside of complete abolishment of the whole damned scheme that would be effective. ObamaCare has to die so that Americans can live.

[SoConPubbie]

The republican plans I’ve heard have said they would do it through tax credits. Just to be honest with you, I’m not sure how that’s any different?

Because it does nothing to remove Obamacare and we NEED to remove Obamacare.

[SoConPubbie]

1. Pay your own way. Nothing will drop the price of medical care like people having to pay for their own.

As long as that does not interfere with my Employer provided Healthcare insurance which is a part of my compensation package, you are right. Otherwise, that is just another form of Government interference in my individual liberties.

[SoConPubbie]

You also need to add no treatment to Illegals unless it is immediate life-saving measures.

Want to drive prices down? This will go a long way to that goal.

[xzins]

Because it does nothing to remove Obamacare and we NEED to remove Obamacare.

Not what I was saying. The article is about extending the subsidies.

Some republicans are agreeing with that.

But others are saying "tax credits". To me, that's still giving money away...if the person doesn't pay more than received in the credits.

[SoConPubbie]

But others are saying "tax credits". To me, that's still giving money away...if the person doesn't pay more than received in the credits.

I agree, sorry for missing your point.

No subsidies, no way, because as you state, the "Tax Credit" is just another word for Subsidy.

[xzins]

Honestly, if you are a great employee and your company doesn’t want to lose you, they can offer you any kind of bonus they want...cash, healthcare. For all I care, they can buy your car insurance.

Many companies want out from under healthcare. Many of their employees they wish would leave, lots off them they wouldn’t care if they left, and some of them they’re glad to buy healthcare for. Having to shell out so much in healthcare for sometimes a good number of bad employees is a real weight on their balance sheet.

There is no more logical reason for your company to buy your healthcare as it is for them to buy your car care.

[alloysteel]

The ball is still in the air at this moment.

Ted Cruz is carving out a moral high ground here. For the Republican leadership to cave and “restore” the subsidies to the people who would lose them should the ruling come down that would abolish the “right” to the subsidy, there should be at least a good “plan B” to have ready to set on the table, excusing these unfortunate souls from the Catch-22, like a national pool that would make a “major medical” plan available (which is at least as good as the “high-deductible” farce now forced upon them), and the latitude to be able to turn to other charitable bodies (NOT the Federal government) to cover the gaps in the deductible portion. The rest, of course, would have to be up to them, those defrauded by Obamacare.

[dhs12345]

So much for the promises of Obamacare. A procedure that cost me a moderate amount just a couple of years ago, will now cost me thousands of dollars. All due the pricing structure that hides the huge deductibles before the insurance company pays a penny.

The frustrating thing is that this type of coverage used to be referred to as catastrophic and was really cheap. Dirt cheap. Now the same coverage is very expensive.

Most of “grubers” voters don't have a clue and are probably happy that they “have insurance.” Only, high deductible insurance isn't really insurance when the patient pays 100% out of pocket.

I and probably most of us here saw this train wreck coming. I am not very happy. But hey, at least some Sandra Fluke type “slut” will have free birthcontrol.

[SoConPubbie]

There is no more logical reason for your company to buy your healthcare as it is for them to buy your car care.

Sorry xzins, no one's business except mine and my Employer.

Not yours, not the State, Not the Feds.

It is a private agreement between my Employer and myself, driven by whether or not I perform or not.

The Feds should have nothing to say about this pro or con.

[bigbob]

Bottom line - any candidate opposed to restoring the credits if they are invalidated, is doomed.

[mtrott]

“The frustrating thing is that this type of coverage used to be referred to as catastrophic and was really cheap.”

Yes, all Obamacare marketplace is, is simply catastrophic policies, which were already available. You are looking at $5000 to $6000 deductibles for most of these plans, which means, for most people, that everything is going to be out of their pockets. The only difference now is that the Federal Government has asserted the authority to force you to purchase this product.

[rudypoot]

Republicans worrying about blow back from what the Democrats did is the definition of spousal abuse syndrome.