When the Cure Is Just As Bad: Leadership’s ObamaCare “Repeal and Replace”

Congressional Republicans all say they want to undo at least bits and pieces of ObamaCare. Efforts to unite behind a bill that would replace ObamaCare have been all over the map with senators like Bill Cassidy pitching his “repeal” as a way to keep ObamaCare.

A leaked House bill outlines steps to dismantle pieces of ObamaCare. This timid bill, even timid to what the House and Senate sent to Obama’s desk, is a crying shame. In fact, the bill has a significant problem because it starts a new entitlement program.

In lieu of ObamaCare subsidies, the House bill proposes implementing tax credits by 2020. Whereas the ObamaCare tax credits were determined by income, Paul Ryan’s new entitlement would be based on age. Under his new system, beneficiaries of a certain age group would receive a government handout to help pay for health care plans. In addition, these tax credits would favor the young and the wealthy by giving them extra, unnecessary subsidies.

Tax exemptions reduce taxable income, allowing taxpayers to keep more of their hard earned money; tax credits are government handouts, giving people taxpayers’ money. Instead of a system to redistribute taxpayer wealth from the government to people, tax deductions are a way to increase families’ funds for health insurance.

It would also give individuals and families the same benefits afforded to businesses. This would reduce the problem created from more and more insurance being tied to employment. More of it would be tied to the individual or to other more stable groups like churches or industry groups.

The secret bill from House leadership reinvents ObamaCare rather than repealing it. Luckily, the bill has encountered significant opposition from Republican lawmakers who recognize the Trojan horse. Several liberty-minded House Republicans, including House Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), have publicly opposed the bill. Meanwhile, Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Mike Lee (R-Utah) are demanding that the GOP replacement plan be nothing less than a “full repeal” of ObamaCare.

Hopefully, the opposition can sustain itself long enough to prevent “ObamaCare Lite” from passing.

Instead of investing more time and money in a system that simply doesn’t work, Congress should move enact a health care policy that champions freedom of choice. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky) and Rep. Mark Sanford (R-S.C.)’s ObamaCare Replacement Act, offers a chance for Congress to move away from the bureaucratic, coercive, and burdensome policies of ObamaCare and towards a pro-freedom, patient-centered, free market health care system.

A new entitlement is not the right direction. Over the past seven years, grassroots advocates across the country have fought relentlessly to get the government out of their healthcare. Shouldn’t Republicans do right by them? It’s time to let the GOP know that Americans expect a real solution. Join us on March 15 in Washington to let Congress know it’s time for some real change.

You can sign up at stormcongress.com.

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