Josh Marshall on the GOP realizing how much shit they’re going to be in:
This will get dark, comical and ridiculous. Republicans – particularly Marco Rubio – did significant damage to Obamacare by getting rid of the so-called ‘risk corridors’ in Obamacare by labeling them bailouts. They were not ‘bailouts’ but systems to cushion the transition to the Obamacare system, given the inability to make perfect guesses about the risk pools in the system. Now, according to The Hill, Republicans are looking at giving vast sums of money to insurance companies to give them a way to ride out the market collapse that the repeal of Obamacare would likely trigger – that is, ride it out until Republicans can think up something to replace Obamacare with.
The more I read about this mess, the more cautiously optimistic I am. They will do everything they can to kick the football down the field for at least two years, after the 2018 midterms.
I agree with your prognosis. Republican sabotage has already left the ACA mortally wounded. If they had the slightest semblance of discipline, they would let it bleed to death and run against it again in the midterms. Fortunately delayed gratification is not the long suit of the poo slingers in the Monkey House. Under threat of primary, they will bring that repeal vote and get just enough support from patsy Democrats to get the repeal to Trump’s desk. Then they own it and the fallout is well past 20 million. Remember the prediction that 1000s of employers would collapse their plans and dive employees into Obamacare? Well some of that happened too. Do you really think employers will re-enter this pricey coverage market. This will get way uglier than the predictions. And the fraudulent, uncontrolled interstate insurance market will set up the next recession.
I just read that the catch phrase has changed from “repeal and replace” to “repeal and delay.” So let’s get cracking on winning those mid terms!