In the wake of their failure to pass a comprehensive healthcare reform bill this year, Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill and in the administration now face calls to take individual steps that would at least target specific problems associated with Obamacare.
America Rising Squared, the policy arm of conservative political action committee America Rising, recently issued a memo directed to members of Congress that outlined five “proactive” measures Republicans could take to “begin to dismantle the Obamacare leviathan.” The memo, dated Thursday and signed by Executive Director Brian Rogers, urged GOP leaders to:
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“Delay Harmful Obamacare Taxes”
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“End Obamacare Bailouts”
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“Weaken the Individual Mandate”
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“Cut Obamacare Marketing”
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“Protect Seniors”
The first and last steps Rogers outlined involve further delaying Obamacare’s health insurance tax, set to take effect on Jan. 1, that hits insurance companies with a 4 to 6 percent tax on every plan sold. A bipartisan coalition of lawmakers sent House leaders Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., a letter late last month urging them to consider including a delay or repeal of the tax in relevant legislation.
Citing an Oliver Wyman study that estimated the tax would increase premiums by 2.6 percent in 2018, the lawmakers referred to their effort as a “commonsense request” that would provide “immediate, targeted relief.” Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., introduced a bill in the upper chamber last week that would delay the tax for another year as well.
Rogers also called on the Trump administration to “cut off” Obamacare’s cost-sharing subsidies by dropping a White House appeal that was taken up by the Obama administration.
“In their 2014 lawsuit, House Republicans ‘charged that the Obama Administration was unconstitutionally spending money that Congress hadn’t formally appropriated, to reimburse health insurers who were providing coverage to working-poor policyholders,'” Rogers wrote. “A federal judge sided with House Republicans, but allowed the subsidies to remain in place pending a White House appeal.” The memo argued dropping the appeal is a “quick and easy way for the Trump Administration to cripple Obamacare.”
Rogers further contended the IRS could weaken the individual mandate by not enforcing the tax penalty for failing to purchase insurance and “[expanding] the circumstances for hardship exemptions.” The memo also called on the administration “to slash spending on Obamacare marketing and outreach.”
After failing to deliver on their signature promise of the past decade, rising health insurance premiums could create serious electoral consequences for Republicans who pledged for years to offer constituents relief. With those pressures in play before the midterms, taking action on the measures outlined by Rogers could help the GOP argue it did at least tackle several specific problems with the existing system, especially as calls for bipartisan efforts increase.
With comprehensive reform off the table for 2017, Republicans are left with the option to pursue smaller-scale fixes such as these that could still help partially appease their anxious base.
Emily Jashinsky is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
