ACA Repeal/Replace: Progressives Face Moral Dilemma

[Warren Dew]

(07-28-2017, 12:56 PM)Eric the Green Wrote: What puzzled me is why 9 senators voted down the repeal and replace bill, and then only 2 of them (plus McCain who had voted FOR the repeal and replace bill) voted against the skinny repeal bill in hopes of something better emerging out of a conference with the House. But what could have emerged except another bill like they had already voted down? Especially since the House bill was much worse.

Only 3 of the 49 voted for "skinny repeal" because they hoped something better would emerge.  Probably most to all of the other 46 actually preferred "skinny repeal" to any of the alternatives offered.

I mean, seriously:

- Medicaid expansion untouched, which gave the moderate Republicans everything they could hope for.
- The individual mandate, hated by all, repealed.
- The employer mandate, which prevents creation of full time entry level jobs, repealed.

The exchanges are already in a death spiral; tanking them a little faster or a little slower won't make much difference.