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A2 UP FRONT
Saturday 31 december 2016

Obama’s last month: ‘Obamacare’ defense, Chicago speech

JOSH LEDERMAN
Associated Press
HONOLULU (AP) — Eager
to stop Republicans from
destroying his signature
health care law, President
Barack Obama and Demo-
cratic lawmakers will meet
next week to try to forge a
common strategy. Obama
also plans a major valedic-
tory speech in Chicago, his
hometown, shortly before
his presidency ends.
Obama will travel to the
Capitol on Wednesday
morning for the meeting
with House and Senate
Democrats, according to
an invitation sent to law-
makers. The White House
is casting it as an effort to
unite Democrats behind
a plan to protect the law,
known as the Affordable
Care Act, before Repub-
licans have a chance to
settle on their own plan for
repealing it.
Democrats are on edge
over the future of the
ACA, given the GOP’s dis-
dain for “Obamacare”
and President-elect Don- In this photo taken Dec. 16, 2016, President Barack Obama speaks during a news conference in the briefing room of the White
ald Trump’s vows to gut House in Washington.
it. Though Republicans Associated Press
are united behind the no-
tion of repealing the law, focus at the start of the placement. (Currently Re- and the uninsured rate has GOP-led Congress to com-
they’re split over how best year. publicans plan to quickly dropped to a historic low pletely repeal the ACA, ac-
to replace it. Some want Defenders of the law have vote on repealing the law, of around 9 percent. Some cording to a post-election
to strip out unpopular pro- also launched a political and delay the effective of the coverage gains are survey by the nonpartisan
visions while leaving others coalition called “Protect date to give them time to due to employers offer- Kaiser Family Foundation.
intact, while other Repub- Our Care,” bringing togeth- craft a replacement.) An- ing jobs with health care in “Republicans don’t fully ap-
licans prefer a start-from- er more than 20 groups, other goal for Democrats is a stronger economy, but preciate the implications of
scratch approach. It’s that including the NAACP and to pre-empt bigger health most experts mainly credit even a partial repeal of the
lack of unanimity among the Service Employees In- care changes to Medicare Obama’s law. A recent poll ACA,” said Rob Restuccia,
Republicans that Obama ternational Union. and Medicaid long sought suggests that defenders of executive director of Com-
and Democrats hope can One of their objectives is to by Republicans. the law may get a recep- munity Catalyst, one of the
be exploited, if they can try to prevent Republicans Since the ACA passed, tive hearing from the pub- advocacy groups in the
lay the groundwork even from repealing the ACA about 20 million people lic. Only about 1 in 4 Ameri- coalition trying to preserve
before Trump takes office. without also enacting a re- have gained coverage cans want Trump and the the law.
To that end, Obama also In rare split, UK’s May criticizes U.S. stance on Israel
planned to answer ques-
tions about the future of
the health care law next Fri- LONDON (AP) — British ernment’s policy on settle-
day during a livestreamed Prime Minister Theresa May ment expansion and other
event at Blair House, just has taken the unusual step issues.
across Pennsylvania Ave- of distancing her govern- May’s spokesman, speak-
nue from the White House. ment from President Barack ing anonymously in line
Initially stunned by the de- Obama’s criticism of Israel. with government rules, said
feat of Hillary Clinton, Dem- A spokesman for May it was wrong to focus sole-
ocrats are now trying to or- said the British govern- ly on the settlement issue
ganize a counter-attack to ment does not think it is when the Palestinian-Israeli
preserve the ACA, among “appropriate to attack the conflict is so complex.
the most significant expan- composition of the demo- The comments bring Brit-
sions of the social safety cratically elected govern- ain’s government more
net since Medicare and ment of an ally.” closely into line with the
Medicaid were created 50 The comments made Thurs- view of President-elect
years ago. House Demo- day were in response to U.S. Donald Trump, who has Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May gives evidence to the House
cratic leader Nancy Pelosi Secretary of State John’s said the Obama adminis- of Commons Liaison Committee in this image taken from video
has urged her lawmakers Kerry’s outspoken speech tration is being far too harsh at Portcullis House, London Tuesday Dec. 20, 2016.
to make health care their challenging the Israeli gov- toward Israel. Associated Press