To: Interested Parties
From: Heritage Action for America
Date: July 28, 2015
Subject: How to Repeal All of Obamacare with Reconciliation
Three years ago, Senate Republicans committed to using the budget reconciliation process to repeal Obamacare. As such, it is no surprise the Republican budget conference agreement "affirms the use of reconciliation for the sole purpose of repealing the President's job-killing health care law."
Today, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senator Mike Lee issued a joint press release pledging to, as McConnell said, "continue our effort to use reconciliation -- as the budget makes clear -- to fulfill the promise we made to our constituents." Earlier this month, McConnell sought to downplay expectations by saying the Senate would "consider using budget reconciliation for repealing as much of Obamacare as is reconcilable" but cautioned "there are certain rules that have to be applied to what is reconcilable." His comments raised concerns -- especially among conservative House members -- that the Senate is procedurally unable to place a reconciliation bill that fully repeals Obamacare on the president's desk.
Those concerns are overblown as a clear path forward exists.