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U.S. NEWS Thursday 5 January 2017

Obamacare’ battle

Continued from Front

Even with White House and — be careful!”
congressional control, an- Republicans said Pence
nulling “Obamacare” and told them in their private
replacing it looms as a meeting to argue that
daunting task for the GOP. Democrats broke the
Leaders hope to have leg- health care system and Re-
islation voiding much of the publicans will fix it.
law on Trump’s desk by late Trump’s team is already
next month, Republicans working with GOP congres-
said. sional leaders on plans to
But after six years of failing undo Obama’s law with
to unite behind an alterna- both legislation and ex-
tive, GOP leaders are dis- ecutive action that the
cussing postponing when president and federal
repeal would take effect agencies would be able to
for 18 months or longer, al- take, Pence said. Lawmak-
lowing more time to craft ers said that according to
replacement legislation. Pence, Trump would sign
Underscoring the law’s some orders the day he
widespread constituency, takes office. Vice President-elect Mike Pence, joins House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis. during a news conference
the Obama administration Pence did not specify what on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017, following a closed-door meeting with
said at least 8.8 million peo- those actions would be. the GOP caucus to discuss repeal of President Obama’s health care law now that the GOP is in
ple signed up through Dec. But House Speaker Paul charge of White House and Congress. Associated Press
31 for coverage in 2017. Ryan, R-Wis., told reporters
Even so, outside experts they would involve “transi-
doubt the administration tion relief.”
will meet its nationwide tar- In the Democrats’ meeting,
get of 13.8 million signups. Obama accepted some
Millions more have cover- blame for not sufficiently
age under the statute’s promoting it.
Medicaid expansion. “The president said, I guess
Trump has provided few we all could have done a
details about how he better job of messaging
would redesign the law, to the American people,”
but has said he wants to re- said Rep. Joe Crowley, D-
tain popular provisions like N.Y.
ensuring coverage for peo- Obama made his remark
ple with pre-existing medi- about looking out for the
cal problems. American people as he left
Republicans will also need the meeting.
to figure out how to pro- Meanwhile, the Senate
tect health coverage for voted 51-48 Wednesday to
millions of Americans dur- begin debating a budget
ing a transition period and that, once approved, will
how to avoid market-place prevent Democrats from
bedlam as nervous insur- using a filibuster to block
ance companies stop sell- future Republican legisla-
ing policies or boost rates. tion to void the health care
Seemingly acknowledging law.
that danger, Trump tweet- Republicans control the
ed warnings to GOP law- Senate by 52-48, but it takes
makers. 60 votes to end a filibuster,
“Massive increases of a procedural roadblock
ObamaCare will take that can kill legislation.
place this year and Dems The Senate is expected to
are to blame for the mess,” complete the budget by
he wrote. next week, with House ap-
“It will fall of its own weight proval to follow.q