Seven years a failure: What your healthcare ultimately meant to the GOP leadership

Cody Nichelson
Jul 28, 2017 · 6 min read
Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Seven years. That’s how long Republicans had to craft thoughtful, strategic healthcare legislation that would improve the lives of Americans. But, during those seven years, they couldn’t be bothered to do so.

Instead, they’d wait until they held majorities in Congress and the White House. Then, it wouldn’t matter what was in the bill. It wouldn’t matter how many Americans would suffer, or how many of their own constituents they’d wrong.

The substance was always secondary. The people, an afterthought. It was politics as usual. They needed stump speeches and material for re-election rallies.

If you do not believe that the American system of governing is broken after what we have witnessed these past few days, then I’m not sure what to tell you.

If you’re a member of the GOP, I can only assume you’re embarrassed or somewhat ashamed of your party. And for good reason.

Nothing about this process has been thoughtful, democratic, dignified, honest or smart.

For seven years, they’ve decried how awful the Affordable Care Act is. They’ve poked holes and pointed out flaws in the legislation.

But they couldn’t—or at least didn’t—take the time to draft a better bill that provided more Americans access to affordable care or lowered premiums for seniors, the disabled or the lower and middle class.

Instead, they presented three options—all rushed, all abandoning the norms of the Senate, all leaving fewer Americans with access to care and all leading to more expensive coverage for just about everyone else (other than themselves, of course, since they made sure they were exempt).

The first was so bad they couldn’t even come close to passing it. It would have taken healthcare away from more than 30 million Americans. Premiums would have skyrocketed. But, there were tax breaks for the wealthy, and it removed Obama’s name from the law of the land (and that was the main goal, after all).

It was defeated.

Then, there was the simple repeal with no replacement… The laziest of options.

Given seven years to come up with something better and they chose to vote on a bill that did nothing other than go back to the old way—and in the process, taking away health insurance from more than 20 million Americans and making premiums more expensive.

It was defeated.

Then came the final option. The last stand. A “skinny repeal” GOP leadership called it. A bill the Senate only wanted to pass if the House refused to do the same. A bill the leadership wanted to vote for in hopes of ultimately seeing it fail. A bill they hoped would never become law.

Gambling with your healthcare for a few quick political points.

The eight-page bill was written during a lunch meeting, introduced at 10pm the same day (with no debate and no committee proceedings) and voted on just a few hours later.

Seven years, and that was the best they could do.

They hoped you weren’t watching. They hoped the White House distractions would grab your attention and drain your energy.

Or better yet, they hoped you’d be fast asleep before you could see them—like thieves in the night—choose partisan politics over your and your family’s health.

The bill was “skinny” in name alone. It slashed mandates and waivers and defunded Planned Parenthood.

According to the CBO, it would have taken health insurance from an estimated 16 million Americans, and premiums would have increased significantly across the country—particularly for those who needed affordable care the most.

Medical organizations, insurance companies, AARP, a bipartisan coalition of state governors and others spoke out against the skinny repeal, knowing there had to be a better way that brought better care to more Americans rather than worse to less. That the federal government could do better than an 8-page bill that did little more than strip care from millions, increase costs for others and remove President Obama’s name from healthcare legislation.

And in the final hour, it was defeated.

The Republican leadership, including Vice President Pence tried as best they could to flip the Republican “hold outs”—who, along with every Senate Democrat, were called obstructionists by the president. They made veiled threats and berated them on Twitter.

But Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins and John McCain joined Democrats and voted no.

They chose country over party. People over politics.

They wanted better for the American people. Not worse.

Doesn’t it make you wonder? How did we get here? After all, Republicans campaigned on repealing and replacing Obamacare, and many were elected as a result.

They did so because their constituents and supporters presumed the replacement would be an improvement—smart, thoughtful and better for Americans.

But it wasn’t. None of the hurried, irresponsible options were.

Regardless of your general opinion concerning the Democratic Party or Pres. Obama, I hope you can see the contrast between their process with the Republicans’ and Trump.

When crafting the Affordable Care Act, Pres. Obama held town halls across the country, solicited feedback from American citizens and worked across the aisle to put forth legislation that would ultimately pass both chambers (220–215 in the House; 60–39 in the Senate).

On the other hand, Trump and Republicans rammed three versions of their repeal plan through the Senate over the course of three days. One was so bad it never even stood a chance. The other was so lazy it did nothing at all. And the third was put to a vote without debate on the floor or discussion in committee only a few hours after it was written and introduced.

Republicans hold majorities in the House and the Senate, a greater number of state legislatures and governors’ offices and even the White House. Yet still, they couldn’t get the job done.

That’s because Pres. Obama’s ACA brought access to healthcare to more Americans. Everything the Republicans brought forth left millions more without.

It was both the process and the substance that was so disgraceful, disgusting, careless and shameful.

We deserve better.

And I must say, that statement holds true today and beyond—even for the ACA.

Obamacare is not perfect. In fact, it’s far from it. Premiums have gone up. Some people have been forced to change their plans and their doctors (even though they were told they wouldn’t). And there are many Americans who still have very few options when it comes to their healthcare needs.

These are all areas where the Republican majority could have worked with Democrats (and each other) to improve the existing healthcare legislation. But they didn’t.

They could have worked to expand healthcare access, but instead they introduced bills that would have reduced it. They could have worked to stabilize or reduce the cost of premiums, but all of their options only made premiums even more expensive.

Many of us will agree to disagree on fundamental views and policy issues.

For instance, I would not think twice about paying a slightly higher premium and being required to have insurance if it meant that people less fortunate than I—those with pre-existing conditions or chronic illnesses, those who are senior citizens, those who are children living in poverty, those who are disabled, unemployed or poor—could have equal access to quality care.

Some others don’t want to pay more so others can have care.

Obamacare isn’t perfect to them. And it isn’t perfect to me.

But it’s damn sure better than what we had before and a hell of a lot better than anything the Republicans could come up with in seven years—or, by their own choosing, seven hours.

Fortunately, no one woke up this morning with less access to healthcare than they had yesterday. For that, I am grateful.

But, millions did wake up today with the same unfortunate and debilitating reality: they don’t have access to care or they have very few affordable options to choose from.

It is for these people that we must continue to fight and progress.

I’m no legislator. I’m no elected official. I don’t have the answers or a magic solution. And I’m in no position of power to introduce one.

But I do know that in the wealthiest, most powerful country in the world, healthcare should be a right for all citizens—not a privilege for those who just so happen to be able to afford it.

No person should have to choose between bankruptcy and imminent death or painful suffering for themselves, their spouses or their children.

There’s still work to be done. Still battles to fight and wars to be won.

So stand ready, speak out, listen, engage, pay attention and vote.

2018 is just around the corner. And 2020 is not too far behind.

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