January 5, 2016
Dear Republican Presidential Candidates,
On Wednesday, the House will vote to send a bill to President Obama's desk that would repeal significant portions of Obamacare through the budget reconciliation process. This congressional effort and the forthcoming presidential veto will provide momentum to help make the full repeal of Obamacare a reality in 2017.
Heritage Action has long supported full repeal of Obamacare and outlined a path forward using the budget reconciliation process last year. The 2012 Republican Party Platform was explicit:
"Congressional Republicans are committed to its repeal; and a Republican President, on the first day in office, will use his legitimate waiver authority under that law to halt its progress and then will sign its repeal. Then the American people, through the free market, can advance affordable and responsible healthcare reform that meets the needs and concerns of patients and providers."
An ironclad commitment to repeal the entire law will keep Obamacare and its disastrous side effects at the forefront of the campaign. The next administration should:
- use every executive power at its disposal to halt the implementation of Obamacare-related federal regulation of the insurance market;
- ensure the Vice President presides over the Senate during reconciliation to guarantee complete and full repeal is achieved through the reconciliation process; and
- sign a complete and full repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), including all provisions relating to federal regulation of the insurance market, into law.
A strong majority of Americans believe Congress should use the same process to repeal Obamacare that was used to pass the law. They are right. America cannot afford another four more years of Obamacare.
Sincerely,
Michael A. Needham
Chief Executive Officer