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Should GOP Fail to Repeal ACA
The GOP has forced a repeal and replace of Obamacare since the day it was signed into law. They specifically promised to replace it with one that would make health-care benefits more generous and universally affordable. Trump has pledged to “preserve Medicaid in its current form and achieve universal coverage with lower deductibles.” Graham-Cassidy does not come near any of these ideals.
So if the latest version of Trumpcare is apparently not what a lot of Republican senators want, then why are the majority of them intending to vote for it?
Graham-Cassidy would cut federal spending on insurance subsides and the Medicaid expansion by an estimated $243 billion in ten years. Many GOP senators support Medicaid-expansion in their own states, however, the donor network funded by conservative billionaires has been explicit in its opposition to the federal program.
Conservative mega-donors oppose Obamacare because they find it morally wrong for the state to take money from wealthy people and use it to subsidize health insurance for non-wealthy people. The Affordable Care Act is based on the premise that government programs that redistribute wealth can improve health care for most Americans.
Republican senators fear that their major donors will hold them accountable if a repeal is not passed. Billionaire magnates Charles and David Koch and others have made clear that Republicans who rebuff them will face consequences. More than a few right-leaning donors say they’re going to stop cutting fundraising checks. “Get Obamacare repealed and replaced, get tax reform passed,” Texas-based donor Doug Deason said, calling his donations a “Dallas piggy bank.” In August, one Virginian donor is so incensed that Republican senators couldn’t repeal the Affordable Care Act that he’s suing to get political donations back, accusing the GOP of fraud and racketeering.
Sources:
Image: Andrew Harnik / AP / From left, Sens. Bill Cassidy, Dean Heller, Ron Johnson, Lindsey Graham and former Sen. Rick Santorum unveil legislation to repeal Obamacare.
http://www.salon.com/2017/06/26/gop-donors-threaten-to-withhold-funds-unless-their-agenda-is-passed/