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up front Tuesday 31 december 2019
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3 years in, no sign of Trump's replacement for Obamacare

Continued from Front provision for millions who Biden, Pete Buttigieg and
depend on it, Trump and Amy Klobuchar, advocate
"The president's policies are senior administration of- for what they contend is a
improving the American ficials have periodically more attainable expansion
health care system for eve- teased that a plan was just of Medicare.
ryone, not just those in the around the corner. Brad Woodhouse, a former
individual market," Deere In August, the administrator Democratic National
said. of the Centers for Medicare Committee official and
But as Trump gears up for and Medicaid Services, executive director of the
his reelection campaign, Seema Verma, said officials Obamacare advocacy
the lack of a health care were "actively engaged in group Protect Our Care,
plan is an issue that Demo- conversations and work- said it is important for Dem-
crats believe they can use ing on things," while Trump ocrats to "put down the
against him. Particularly adviser Kellyanne Con- knives they've been wield-
since he's still seeking to way suggested that same ing against one another on
overturn "Obamacare" in month an announcement health care." This screen grab from the website HealthCare.gov shows the
court. was on the horizon. "Instead turn their attention extended deadline for signing up for health care coverage for
This month, a federal ap- In June, Trump told ABC to this president and Re- 2020.
peals court struck down News that he'd roll out publicans who are trying to Associated Press
the ACA's individual man- his "phenomenal health take it away," Woodhouse month, former New York line."
date, the requirement that care plan" in a couple of counseled. Mayor Michael Bloomberg Polling suggests Trump's
Americans carry health in- months, and that it would Some Democratic hope- called out Trump on health failure to follow through
surance, but sidestepped be a central part of his ree- fuls appear to be doing just care, saying the president on his promise to deliver a
a ruling on the law's overall lection pitch. that. is "determined to throw revamped health care sys-
constitutionality. The attor- The country is still waiting. During a campaign stop in Americans off the boat, tem could be a drag on his
neys general of Texas and Meantime Trump officials Memphis, Tennessee. this without giving them a life- reelection effort.q
18 other Republican-led say the administration has
states filed the underlying made strides by champion-
lawsuit, which was defend- ing transparency on hospi-
ed by Democrats and the tal prices, pursuing a range
U.S. House. Texas argued of actions to curb prescrip-
that due to the unlawful- tion drug costs, and ex-
ness of the individual man- panding lower-cost health
date, "Obamacare" must insurance alternatives for
be entirely scrapped. small businesses and indi-
Trump welcomed the ruling viduals.
as a major victory. Texas v. One of Trump's small busi-
United States appears des- ness options — association
tined to be taken up by the health plans — is tied up in
Supreme Court, potentially court. And taken together,
teeing up a constitutional the administration's health
showdown before the 2020 insurance options are mod-
presidential election. est when compared with
In a letter Monday to Dem- Trump's original goal of roll-
ocratic lawmakers, House ing back the ACA.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi sin- Since Trump has not come
gled out the court case. through on his promise of a
"The Trump administration big plan, internecine skir-
continues to firmly support mishes among 2020 Demo-
the recent ruling in the 5th cratic presidential hope-
Circuit, which they hope fuls have largely driven the
will move them one step health care debate in re-
closer to obliterating every cent months.
protection and benefit of Bernie Sanders and Eliza-
the Affordable Care Act," beth Warren are leading
Pelosi wrote, urging Demo- the push among liber-
crats to keep health care als for a "Medicare for All"
front and center in 2020. plan that would effectively
Accused of trying to dis- end private health insur-
mantle his predecessor's ance while more moder-
health care law with no ate candidates, like Joe