Washington—Last week, interim House Budget Chairwoman Diane Black (R-Tenn.) told reporters in Philadelphia to "expect that (Obamacare repeal) probably toward the latter part of February, or the first part of March." Her comments came as congressional Republicans first self-imposed deadline passed. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) added, "I don't think we have the luxury of this dragging out for a lengthy period of time. There is a reason to wrap it up." Heritage Action released the following statement from Chief Executive Officer Michael A. Needham:
"More than two weeks ago, congressional Republicans took an important first step toward delivering on a longstanding campaign priority: the repeal of Obamacare. That was only the first step though, and now they must move quickly to put Obamacare repeal on President Trump's desk. Seven in 10 Americans believe the longer Congress waits, the less likely Obamacare repeal becomes a reality.
"Congress cannot allow the timeline to continue to slip. Not only does it delay work on other legislative priorities, but millions of Americans are suffering from the harmful side effects of Obamacare. The law must be repealed so we can begin the process of creating a patient-centered replacement."
The Heritage Foundation's American Perceptions Initiative found that 70 percent agree that "The longer Congress waits to fulfill promises to repeal Obamacare, the less likely they are to be successful." Equally notable, 72 percent agreed that "If Congress wait to fulfill promises to repeal Obamacare, Americans who voted for them are going to take their promises less seriously."
Related:
Heritage Action: Congress Jumpstarts Obamacare Repeal
Heritage: Congressional Delay Threatens Obamacare Repeal
Key Vote: "YES" on Obamacare Repeal Budget Resolution (S. CON. RES. 3)
The Hill: Congress has a Mandate to Repeal Obamacare