Oh Boy. Republicans Likely To Run On "Repeal And Replace"

That's the word from Mitch McConnell today.

I get the theory, there are things in the bill that will kick in before 2012 that may be hard to take back (ban on pre-existing for kids, prohibition on lifetime caps and an end to rescissions all kick in in 6 months, right around the mid-terms). Those are popular things people will want. Promising to take them away is not good politics (in the case of rescissions, I think it would be bad policy as well).

The problem is offing up a replacement plan ensures the focus of the debate will shift to, Which plan is better for Americans? That's an argument we might win but it's a tougher one to have. The Democrats will run out their sob stories and we'll be on the side of arguing cold, hard, theoretical numbers.

Keeping big issues simple is usually the most effective way to go about things, "ObamaCare Bankrupts America, Repeal It!" is a clean and neat concept most people will get behind.

In fact, Congressman Steve King (R-IA) has a bill ready. It reads in full...

Effective as of the enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, such Act is repealed, and the provisions of law amended or repealed by such Act are restored or revived as if such Act had not been enacted.

As someone who doesn't think the federal government actually has a role in this issue, I gotta say I like King's approach. Alas, I'm not a majority of voters.

Time for choosing.

posted by DrewM. at 02:14 PM

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