The Repeal of Obamacare/ACA: Step-bystep, Inch-by-inch

[ThelmaLou]

Made me smile.

“Trump Says He Got Rid of Obamacare. The I.R.S. Doesn’t Agree.”

Trump Says He Got Rid of Obamacare. The I.R.S. Doesn’t Agree. (Published 2018)

…
But despite Mr. Trump’s longstanding desire to unwind the signature legislative achievement of his predecessor, many parts of the Affordable Care Act remain in place. And the Trump administration is even enforcing some of its provisions more aggressively than President Barack Obama did — a reality that has enraged business groups and Republicans in Congress who still want the law officially repealed.

While the individual mandate may be dead, the employer mandate — the requirement that many companies offer health insurance to their workers or pay a penalty — is very much alive. Under Mr. Trump, the Internal Revenue Service has been pursuing companies that fail to comply with the mandate and, according to the agency, was sending penalty notices to more than 30,000 businesses around the country.
…

[jasg]

This looks rather serious.

The Trump administration said Thursday night that it will not defend the Affordable Care Act against the latest legal challenge to its constitutionality — a dramatic break from the executive branch’s tradition of arguing to uphold existing statutes and a land mine for health insurance changes the ACA brought about.

In a brief filed in a Texas federal court and an accompanying letter to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), the Justice Department agrees in large part with the 20 Republican-led states who brought the suit. They contend that the ACA provision requiring most Americans to carry health insurance soon will no longer be constitutional and that, as a result, consumer insurance protections under the law are not valid either.

[Skypist]

Yes, and it can take out the clause requiring people with preexisting conditions to be offered policies and the clause allowing young adults to stay on their parents’ health insurance until age 26.

Goddamn almighty those weasels in the WH, DoJ, and Congress are determined to tear down what little good was still left with regard to health care in the US. And their voters/fanboys will smile and laugh and dance and cheer while the fire started by 45, Ryan, McConnell, Sessions (and others I am probably forgetting right now) consumes them.

I am so angry. But somehow Hillary would have been worse. :smack:

[Typo_Negative]

And when poorer Republican voters find themselves unable to acquire insurance, the will blame Obama.

[jasg]

In the midst of the 2018 elections, this could be interesting even though it’s effects would not be felt until 2019. It seems like it will benefit one of the parties.

Assuming that the Democrats gain from this, wouldn’t it be funny if the AG has directed the DOJ to hold back on defense as a way to make Trump’s life difficult with a Democratic house?
This is an interesting read on the issue.

Earlier today, the Justice Department filed a document in a case about the Affordable Care Act that was so radical, and so self-evidently without merit, that career lawyers in that agency would not sign their names to it. In fact, the document is such a transparent embarrassment that three career lawyers involved in the case withdrew their appearance before it was filed, presumably to avoid the taint of being listed on a docket where it appeared.

[Anny_Middon]

I can’t seem to find it now, but Spanky tweeted early this month that they’d be unveiling some fantastic new health insurance program by the end of the month. Anyone here holding their breath in anticipation?

[Elendil_s_Heir]

No, unlike some people in the White House these days, I prefer to keep my brain functioning properly, and that means breathing regularly.

[ElvisL1ves]

@Anny_Middon

Anyone here holding their breath in anticipation?

Yes, but in the sense of “Oh, dear Lord, what’s he gonna do this time?”

[Skypist]

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/08/insurance-obamacare-adjustment-payments-701907

The Trump administration is freezing billions of dollars of payments to Obamacare health insurers, another blow to the fragile markets as health plans begin to set premiums and get ready for the next enrollment season.

He must have heard that the exchanges were still somewhat functioning.

Why don’t the poor and middle class who voted for him see this and realize he is screwing THEM over directly, not just some lazy “other”? I know, I know. Rhetorical question. But I just don’t get how they can be so dense.

[Lightnin]

@Typo_Negative

And when poorer Republican voters find themselves unable to acquire insurance, the will blame Obama.

A friend of mine posted on Facebook about how paying for insurance is ruining her life, and, “Affordable Care my ass”.

Before you ask, why yes- we *do *live in a red state.

[jasg]

An interesting twist to the Saga of the ACA. Four cities - Baltimore, Chicago, Columbus and Cincinnati filed the lawsuit in federal court in Maryland, arguing that Trump’s actions against the Affordable Care Act violate the Constitution’s provision that the president “shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed.”

Abbe Gluck, a Yale Law School professor who supports the ACA, wrote in Vox this month that cases arguing the president is not faithfully executing laws are a “tall order because the executive is often vested with broad discretion to implement the law.”

She said that in this specific instance, though, she does think the case has a good chance of succeeding because of how clear Trump has been about what he is trying to do.

“But it is impossible to recall a president who has been as clear about his intent to sabotage a major federal law as this president has been about his intent with respect to the ACA,” she added.

President Trump admits he’s trying to kill Obamacare. That’s illegal.

[Skypist]

Gonna be all rolled back now to pre-2009 (which was even worse than the clusterfuck we have had since then) unless a miracle appeal happens and works or a few Republicans in Congress actually grow a spine and do something to improve health care in this cesspool of a country (which will never happen).

https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/14/politics/texas-aca-lawsuit/index.html

The ruling, which is certain to be appealed, threatens to wipe away the Affordable Care Act’s protections for those with pre-existing conditions, which became a focal point of the midterm elections and helped Democrats take the House.

[jasg]

I love this headline from Ezra Klein - article explains today’s ruling quite well.

The Texas ruling against Obamacare is a boon to Medicare-for-all

@Ezra Klein

The legacy of the GOP’s Obamacare repeal strategy won’t be the Affordable Care Act’s destruction, but Medicare-for-all’s construction.

This is doubly true if Republicans somehow succeed in this case. Imagine a world where Judge O’Connor’s ruling is upheld. In that world, a Republican judge cuts tens of millions of people off health insurance mere weeks after Republicans lost a midterm election for merely trying to cut those people off health insurance. The aftermath of that would be a political massacre for the GOP, and a straightforward mandate for Democrats to rebuild the health system along the lines they prefer.

[Roderick_Femm]

@jasg

I love this headline from Ezra Klein - article explains today’s ruling quite well.

The Texas ruling against Obamacare is a boon to Medicare-for-all

If it happens in the next two years, even if 45 vetoes it and is over-ridden, he will still take credit for it later.

[jasg]

@Roderick_Femm

If it happens in the next two years, even if 45 vetoes it and is over-ridden, he will still take credit for it later.

Right in line with Ezra’s first sentence

“The Republican strategy to pass Medicare-for-all continues.”

[JohnT]

It is now the official position of the Trump administration that all of the ACA… including pre-existing conditions coverage, the removal of spending caps, more… is unconstitutional.

[vivalostwages]

@JohnT

It is now the official position of the Trump administration that all of the ACA… including pre-existing conditions coverage, the removal of spending caps, more… is unconstitutional.

Well, then, what does this Administration offer up as a replacement? Didn’t they try to do that already and fail? It was supposed to be “something terrific.”

[wguy123]

New tweet from Supreme Dipshit:

The Republican Party will become “The Party of Healthcare!”

I’m sure there are “big plans” behind this bold declaration. :rolleyes::rolleyes:

[wolfpup]

@JohnT

It is now the official position of the Trump administration that all of the ACA… including pre-existing conditions coverage, the removal of spending caps, more… is unconstitutional.

The Orange-tufted Orangutan doesn’t seem to understand that it’s already been ruled on by the Supreme Court. And it was basically John Roberts who saved it, correctly fearing that the Court would otherwise be revealed as a bunch of partisan hacks.

@vivalostwages

Well, then, what does this Administration offer up as a replacement? Didn’t they try to do that already and fail? It was supposed to be “something terrific.”

It was! It’s absolutely terrific to have no health care laws. Health care must be managed by the Invisible Hand of the Free Market. Meaning, you pays your money and you gets your health care, nor not, as the case may be. If not, sucks to be you.

[ThelmaLou]

@vivalostwages

Well, then, what does this Administration offer up as a replacement? Didn’t they try to do that already and fail? It was supposed to be “something terrific.”

Now you’re just being silly.