This week, Republicans are pressing legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act, a move that would eliminate health benefits for young people, seniors, and small businesses, hinder job growth, and add $230 billion to the deficit over the next 10 years. In the time since our previous post on national newspaper editorial boards denouncing Republicans’ repeal bill, even more newspaper editorials have been published echoing those repudiations. Here’s what they’re saying.
“The Republicans' "repeal and replace" plan looks more perilous for them than it seemed just a few months ago. The tide seems to be turning on Americans' feelings about the overhaul”
“Returning to a system that is too expensive and filled with incentives to drive up costs even further is the riskiest health care strategy of all”
San Jose Mercury News: “Honest debate about health care reform would be welcome”: House Republican leaders plan to deliver this week on their vow to repeal President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. It's a symbolic exercise, since the Senate and Obama won't go along. The real question is whether Americans will get the "thoughtful consideration of the health care bill" House leaders are promising… House Speaker John Boehner should begin by admitting the fallacy of his contention that repealing the health care law would not add billions to the deficit. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office made that clear, saying, to the contrary, that repeal would drive up the deficit by $230 billion over the first decade -- not to mention adding 32 million to the ranks of the uninsured by 2019…. The Republicans' "repeal and replace" plan looks more perilous for them than it seemed just a few months ago. The tide seems to be turning on Americans' feelings about the overhaul.” LINK
Charlotte Observer: “Repeal health care? First consider facts” Republicans who now control the U.S. House say it's their top priority. But chances are that much of what you'll hear or have heard about the law is wrong. PolitiFact reporters read the whole 906-page bill and interviewed independent health care experts. …The anti-health-care deficit hawks are talking out of two sides of their mouths. The health care reforms are projected to shrink the deficit. Repealing health care reform will add to the deficit by an estimated $230 billion over 10 years, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.” LINK
New York Times: “The Truth and Consequences of Repeal” “Get ready for more theater on Capitol Hill. House Republicans plan to push through legislation this week to repeal the health care reform law. In deference to the new vows of civility, the tone of the debate may be a bit more restrained. But Republicans have already said that they will not strip the word “killing” from the bill — which is titled, “Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act.” Civility apparently goes only so far. While repeal will certainly pass the House, it has no chance in the Senate. So House Republicans are already planning other ways to undermine the reforms, like denying agencies enough money to hire personnel to carry out the program. Americans will pay a high price if opponents get their way. Reform means that tens of millions of uninsured people will get a chance at security; and many millions more who have coverage can be sure they can keep or replace it, even if they get sick or lose their jobs. Repeal would also take away the best chance for reining in rising health care costs — and the government’s relentlessly rising Medicare burden. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that repealing the reform law would drive up the deficit by $230 billion over the first decade and much more in later years.” LINK