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A6 U.S. NEWS
Monday 29 July 2019

Biden's full embrace of Obama health law has political risks

By BILL BARROW search poll this spring found
Associated Press 57% of adults wanted the
Joe Biden had just rolled health law to remain; 42%
out his health care plan percent said it should be
when he made what could kept, but with changes.
be a fateful pledge to a Four out of 10 favored a
crowd in Iowa: "If you like rollback, but just half of
your health care plan or those called for total re-
your employer-based plan, peal. Meanwhile, 53% fa-
you can keep it." vored adding a nonman-
The remark echoed assur- datory government insur-
ances President Barack ance plan to the market;
Obama made repeatedly less than one-fifth opposed
as he sold the Affordable that course. That's a more
Care Act, which became favorable split than on sin-
known as "Obamcare." But gle-payer, which garnered
Obama's promise proved 43% support and 31% op-
an exaggeration, if not a position.
falsehood, and it anchored Which party ultimately wins
early GOP attacks on the on health care, Maslin and
law as new regulations led other Democrats argue,
private insurers to cancel In this July 23, 2019, photo, Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden depends on who voters
certain policies, even if speaks in New Orleans. believe will better protect
they had to offer replace- Associated Press access to care, regardless
ments to consumers. of the details. "People still
Biden's promise on job- passed," Democratic poll- health care that will likely position reflects voters' slow don't like the way the mar-
based coverage , which al- ster Paul Maslin said, point- be an animating issue at embrace of the 2010 law, ket works," from rising pre-
most 160 million Americans ing to health care's role this week's primary debate while acknowledging vot- miums to spiking drug costs,
use, underscores the risks in Republican victories in in Detroit. ers' concerns about the Maslin noted, but they
of positioning himself as 2010 and Democratic wins The former vice president is cost and consequences distrust a politician "who
the health overhaul's chief last November. "Right now proposing to add a "pub- of a single-payer, govern- might be taking something
defender. Fully embracing we have the advantage," lic option" that would al- ment health insurance sys- away."
the health law and pledg- Maslin said, "but I'd be a low Americans to choose tem and their distrust of pri- Republicans capitalized
ing to expand it also means fool to say there's no risk whether to buy govern- vate insurers and the phar- in 2010, when voters saw
exposing Biden to attacks here." ment insurance or buy maceutical industry. Obama's new law — ad-
from all sides: from the left Indeed, the Republican private policies. He also "I knew the Republicans opted but not yet in place
that wants more than what National Committee has would boost existing subsi- would do everything in their — as the threat and re-
Biden is offering; from the seized on Biden's policy roll- dies that consumers use to power to repeal 'Obam- warded the GOP's mantra
right that loathes the law out. "Biden has to deal with buy policies on the law's ex- acare,'" Biden says in an of "repeal and replace."
in any form; and from the the fact that he would be changes. That would mark online campaign ad. "They By 2018, after years of GOP
middle, where voters re- the 2020 face of Barack a significant expansion but still are. But I'm surprised failures to offer an alter-
main skeptical about the Obama's notorious lie that still be a more incremental that so many Democrats native, voters had grown
nation's complex and ex- if you like your health care approach than Vermont are running on getting rid accustomed to key provi-
pensive health care sys- plan you can keep it," said Sen. Bernie Sanders' "Medi- of it ... and if I'm elected sions, chiefly the guarantee
tem. Steve Guest of the Repub- care for All" proposal, which president, I'm going to do of coverage for those with
"This is one of those is- lican National Committee. would essentially replace everything in my power to existing health conditions
sues where the pendu- Biden is at the center of the private market with protect it and build on it." and Medicaid expansion
lum has swung back-and- a broader Democratic government insurance. An Associated Press-NORC to cover the working poor
forth since 'Obamacare' divide over the future of Biden's campaign says his Center for Public Affairs Re- and lower middle class.q