Posted on 08/08/2019 12:11:34 PM PDT by yesthatjallen
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said this week that Republicans would push to repeal ObamaCare if they win back the House and President Trump is reelected in 2020.
"If we can get the House back and keep our majority in the Senate, and President Trump wins reelection, I can promise you not only are we going to repeal ObamaCare, we're going to do it in a smart way where South Carolina will be the biggest winner," Graham said in an interview with a South Carolina radio station.
"We've got to remind people that we're not for ObamaCare."
Graham's repeal bill, introduced in 2017, would eliminate major sections of ObamaCare, including subsidies that help people buy insurance and the Medicaid expansion that covers low-income adults in 36 states and Washington, D.C.
The bill would essentially shift money from states like California that expanded Medicaid to states that didn't, like South Carolina. Such a move could force some states to cut health care services and reduce eligibility.
"If we could get the money back to the states, Democratic policies would be tested against our policies," Graham said.
"This scares the hell out of the Democrats. This is what 2020 is about."
Previous GOP attempts to repeal ObamaCare were a driving force in Democrats taking back the House in 2018 and the issue has also reemerged among 2020 Democratic presidential hopefuls debating the best approach to health care.
Former Vice President Joe Biden has emphasized the need to shore up ObamaCare from attempts by Republicans and the Trump administration to dismantle the law, while several of his progressive rivals have focused on pushing policies such as "Medicare for All."
Democrats ran on protecting ObamaCare during the 2018 midterms and accused Republicans of trying to take away protections for those with pre-existing conditions.
House and Senate Democrats plan to follow the same playbook in 2020, as the Trump administration supports a lawsuit that seeks to overturn the entirety of ObamaCare.
As such, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has veered away from talking about repealing ObamaCare, instead focusing on smaller health care fixes.
Graham on Tuesday touted his bill, which would allow states to opt out of consumers protections, like those that prevent insurers from charging people with pre-existing conditions more for coverage.
Senate leaders decided in 2017 not to put Graham's repeal bill up for a vote because it didn't have enough support. Conservatives fumed that Republicans failed to repeal ObamaCare despite having a majority in both houses with a Republican president.
GOP Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Rand Paul (Ky.) and the late Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) all opposed the bill. But Graham insists it would be different next time.
"We were one vote short in the Senate," Graham said.
You will do no such thing. Shut up little girl.
Yeah, why not promise that again Graham?
I mean who’s going to remember you doing that three years ago?
Or did McCain have you by the nads back then?
Now that Obamacare has had a chance to reach it’s “use by” date, pretty much EVERYBODY hates it. :)
Deja Vu’ anyone?
How can he promise the House will go along, remember that wimp Paul Ryan?
Go home …. Wimpy!
Too late sister.
We need to get one of our own little people Pappy!
Mr. Graham, the GOP has ZERO CREDIBILITY on this.
Your party is a bunch of stinking liars.
And the same people who pushed it now claim that they hate it and... as a solution offer single payer. Will we believe them this time?
A variation on the old expression: Fail me once, shame on you fail me twice shame on me.
The Establishment speaks AGAIN. And talk is so cheap in DC.
Promises, Promises....
Always with the GOPee Promises to get re-elected.
I don’t think the GOP is winning the House back in 2020 even if Trump gets re-elected.
Pretty insulting he thinks people are this utterly stupid. My gosh he really must believe that the base in nothing more than an easily manipulated bunch of hicks.
Yeah, sure Flimsey.
How about amnesty for illegal aliens, too?
He is STILL working on passing the amnesty he’s been trying to pass since 2006.
Bush League Republicans MUST become extinct before the Republic does.
“Yeah, why not promise that again Graham?“
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Lindsey, why the hell don’t you actually DO SOMETHING productive like not allow DemocRATS to use the Blue Slip process to essentially veto Trump District Court nominees (or potential nominees). That’s within YOUR power to do TODAY.
No need for empty promises when you actually can take ACTION.
If Registered Republicans don't have 100% turnout (which insures a House win) then they are not paying attention.
Better have a specific plan and be able to expound on it.
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