# The Repeal of Obamacare/ACA: Step-bystep, Inch-by-inch **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 2, 2017, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repeal-of-obamacare-aca-step-bystep-inch-by-inch/776146 "2017-01-02T17:06:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 35
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repeal-of-obamacare-aca-step-bystep-inch-by-inch/776146/681 "2017-05-05T14:39:36Z")
> [@Ambrosio\_Spinola](#): > > The CBO also _underestimated_ the [number of people that would be insured under Medicaid](http://www.factcheck.org/2017/03/cbos-obamacare-predictions-how-accurate/). And despite what it got wrong it [was closer in its estimates](http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2015/dec/cbo-crystal-ball-forecast-aca) than many other estimators. “Despite what it got wrong” + “it was closer in its estimates than many other estimators”. What does that actually mean in the real world? That they were/are less wrong than other organizations? I’m not sure that actually instills much confidence in their findings. _Of course they’re wrong, but they’re the best we have._ ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repeal-of-obamacare-aca-step-bystep-inch-by-inch/776146/682 "2017-05-05T14:40:26Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > They predicted 23 million in the exchanges. Instead it was 10.4. > They predicted 10 million in Medicaid. Instead it was 14.4. > > 23+10 = 33 - they predicted > 10.4+14.4 = 24.8 - the actual result. > > CBO was off by 33% from the actual numbers. You think that’s “pretty close”? CBO projected 30 million uninsured in 2016. The number was 27 million. Is that wildly off? I’m perfectly happy to consult a better source of economic predictions. What source do you recommend? And how did they score the Republican bill? ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repeal-of-obamacare-aca-step-bystep-inch-by-inch/776146/683 "2017-05-05T14:44:25Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Some of the 23 million got coverage though medicare rather than the exchanges. The total is still close to the original 23 million predicted. You mean Medicaid and I did include that. CBO was off by 33%. That’s “way off”, not “pretty close”. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repeal-of-obamacare-aca-step-bystep-inch-by-inch/776146/684 "2017-05-05T14:46:17Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > CBO projected 30 million uninsured in 2016. The number was 27 million. Is that wildly off? > > I’m perfectly happy to consult a better source of economic predictions. What source do you recommend? And how did they score the Republican bill? “They were wildly off, but that’s the best we got” is not much of a recommendation. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repeal-of-obamacare-aca-step-bystep-inch-by-inch/776146/685 "2017-05-05T14:50:05Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > You mean Medicaid and I did include that. CBO was off by 33%. That’s “way off”, not “pretty close”. The CBO was much, much closer in their predictions than the Republicans. Republican predictions were off by much, much more than the CBO. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repeal-of-obamacare-aca-step-bystep-inch-by-inch/776146/686 "2017-05-05T14:56:06Z")
Both the Democrats and the Republicans attack the CBO when it goes against them and praise the CBO when it goes for them. If someone questions actual methodology, they might be worth listening to. General bomb throwing is irrelevant. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repeal-of-obamacare-aca-step-bystep-inch-by-inch/776146/687 "2017-05-05T14:57:45Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > “They were wildly off, but that’s the best we got” is not much of a recommendation. Let’s see your sources for better predictions. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repeal-of-obamacare-aca-step-bystep-inch-by-inch/776146/688 "2017-05-05T15:10:43Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Worked for the Democrats in 2010 :rolleyes: > > I have to give the GOP credit. They must be REALLY confident that everyone will love their health care in 2018 since they own it 100% now… (post shortened, underline added) Are you saying that this bill has already been passed into law? I’m pretty sure that both houses of Congress have to pass their version of the bill (and maybe survive a conciliation effort, if required) and a President has to sign it. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repeal-of-obamacare-aca-step-bystep-inch-by-inch/776146/689 "2017-05-05T15:18:37Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > “They were wildly off, but that’s the best we got” is not much of a recommendation. “They were off by 10% where it counted, and I’m looking for someone who was accurate to 9% or better,” is my actual argument. But it sure seems like you’re all talk, seeing as how you can’t tell me anyone who did better. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repeal-of-obamacare-aca-step-bystep-inch-by-inch/776146/690 "2017-05-05T15:18:47Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Wow! What a ringing endorsement for the GOP and the President! > > The Republicans have a 45-member lead over the Democrats in the House, and they managed to pass the single most significant piece of legislation from the whole election campaign—the one thing that Republicans hammered on ceaselessly for seven years, and the one thing that even many Democrats agree needs improvement—by a total of four votes. That’s the way the system works. 435 elected members, proportionally representing the population of the 50 states, attempting to best represent their constituents and still reach a workable compromise. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repeal-of-obamacare-aca-step-bystep-inch-by-inch/776146/691 "2017-05-05T15:24:15Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > (post shortened, underline added) > > Are you saying that this bill has already been passed into law? I’m pretty sure that both houses of Congress have to pass their version of the bill (and maybe survive a conciliation effort, if required) and a President has to sign it. The House has passed a _ **Republican** _ bill. That’s step one. The Senate has a _ **Republican** _ majority. Any bill they pass will be a _ **Republican** _ bill. Once both houses are done, it will be a _ **Republican** _ bill which will go to a _ **Republican** _ President. Once he signs it, it will be a _ **Republican** _ healthcare plan. At which point, you’re fucked. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repeal-of-obamacare-aca-step-bystep-inch-by-inch/776146/692 "2017-05-05T15:28:02Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > That’s the way the system works. 435 elected members, **proportionally representing the population of the 50 states,** attempting to best represent their constituents and still reach a workable compromise. Gerrymandering makes that a lie. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repeal-of-obamacare-aca-step-bystep-inch-by-inch/776146/693 "2017-05-05T15:55:17Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > That’s the way the system works. 435 elected members, proportionally representing the population of the 50 states, attempting to best represent their constituents and still reach a workable compromise. Didn’t you used to troll about how ACA was terrible because it didn’t get a single Republican vote? (In spite of the bill contains Republican authored amendments, of course.) Where’s your interest in bipartisanship now, troll? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repeal-of-obamacare-aca-step-bystep-inch-by-inch/776146/694 "2017-05-05T18:15:19Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > I reiterate: given how many lives are on the line, a straight-up lynch mob in, let’s just say Kentucky wouldn’t be out of line. [Moderating] Let’s try and cool it on the whole, “calling for mob violence against elected officials” thing, okay? No warning issued. [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repeal-of-obamacare-aca-step-bystep-inch-by-inch/776146/695 "2017-05-05T18:55:02Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > You and I both know that he has absolutely no idea what quality, or even form, of health care Australia has. It isn’t that he doesn’t know (about this or ANYything else) because he doesn’t know shit, as bad as that would be. It’s that he just doesn’t give a fuck. “You guys” voted for him. I didn’t. Now “you” get to “reap the rewards”. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repeal-of-obamacare-aca-step-bystep-inch-by-inch/776146/696 "2017-05-05T19:15:47Z")
Meme making the rounds… “Now the mentally ill still can’t get treatment, but they can buy guns.” ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repeal-of-obamacare-aca-step-bystep-inch-by-inch/776146/697 "2017-05-05T19:57:11Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Are you saying that this bill has already been passed into law? I’m pretty sure that both houses of Congress have to pass their version of the bill (and maybe survive a conciliation effort, if required) and a President has to sign it. Whatever version comes out of Congress won’t have a single Democratic vote. The GOP owns health care 100%. And each member of Congress who voted in favor of the bill yesterday is on record as supporting whatever numbers the CBO puts out next week, whether this version of the bill passes or not. Hell, if the GOP fails to come up with a new bill, they STILL own health care 100% since they control Congress. But since yesterday’s great fanfare was that the House passed a bill, most people are going to just assume we’re working under a GOP framework anyway. And let’s not forget the president’s promise of beautiful healthcare that everyone is really happy with. I mean, you can sit around and try to educate people about Congress or the arcana of getting stuff passed or how the GOP received no assistance, etc. That worked wonders for the Democrats after 2010. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repeal-of-obamacare-aca-step-bystep-inch-by-inch/776146/698 "2017-05-05T20:24:46Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > The House has passed a _ **Republican** _ bill. That’s step one. > The Senate has a _ **Republican** _ majority. Any bill they pass will be a _ **Republican** _ bill. > > Once both houses are done, it will be a _ **Republican** _ bill which will go to a _ **Republican** _ President. > Once he signs it, it will be a _ **Republican** _ healthcare plan. > At which point, you’re fucked. Hahahaha, that’s exactly why the Democrats are responsible for ACA/Obamacare. Perhaps you could explain the process to **Jophiel**. Or not. I have no idea if Congress will be able to pass this latest bill. There are still lots of things that can go wrong (or go right depending on an individuals point of view). It still appears as if the yellow dog Democrats desperately need to “share” the credit for ACA/Obamacare, or at least share the blame. 2018 isn’t that far away. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repeal-of-obamacare-aca-step-bystep-inch-by-inch/776146/699 "2017-05-05T20:30:12Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Meme making the rounds… > > “Now the mentally ill still can’t get treatment, but they can buy guns.” because FRREEEEEEDDDUUUUMBBBBB!!! ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repeal-of-obamacare-aca-step-bystep-inch-by-inch/776146/700 "2017-05-05T20:32:09Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Gerrymandering makes that a lie. Doesn’t Luis Gutiérrez (D–Chicago) still represent Illinois 4th congressional district? It’s a shame that Chicago politicians created such a bizarre, gerrymandered district in order to help their own political party. Tsk, tsk. > **[Illinois's 4th congressional district](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois%27s_4th_congressional_district)** > > The 4th congressional district of Illinois includes part of Cook County, and has been represented by Democrat Jesús "Chuy" García since January 2019. > In November 2017, incumbent Luis Gutiérrez announced that he would retire from Congress at the end of his current term, and not seek re-election in 2018. Jesús "Chuy" García was elected on November 6, 2018. > The previous version of the district from 2013–2023 was featured by The Economist as one of the most strangely drawn and gerrymandered congr... [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repeal-of-obamacare-aca-step-bystep-inch-by-inch/776146.md?page=34) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repeal-of-obamacare-aca-step-bystep-inch-by-inch/776146.md?page=36)