Lindsey Graham Says the Quiet Part Out Loud, Promises GOP Would Repeal Health Care Law After Next Election: “This Is What 2020 Is About”

Graham: “If we can get the House back and keep our majority in the Senate, and President Trump wins re-election, I can promise you… we [are] going to repeal Obamacare”

In a radio interview this week, Senator Lindsey Graham confirmed what Americans already knew – that Republicans in Washington are all too eager to continue their assault on the health care protections that millions of Americans rely on, including safeguards for those with pre-existing conditions, maternity care coverage, and allowing kids to stay on their parents’ insurance until age 26. Graham’s comments come as Republicans are “scrambling” to come up with a health care agenda to distract from their toxic records of voting for repeal.

Voters continue to trust Democrats over Republicans on health care, and the GOP has “no credibility” after spending years trying to tear down the health care law and attacking popular consumer protections.

“Health care remains a losing issue for Republican Senators – but they’re still doubling down and promising to revive their toxic plans to spike costs, take away coverage, and tear down protections for people with pre-existing conditions,” said DSCC spokesperson Stewart Boss. “The GOP agenda is reckless and harmful, but Senator Graham is certainly right about the fact that Republicans will continue their attacks on their constituents’ health care if they win next year’s election, and this is what 2020 is all about.”

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

The Hill: Graham promises ObamaCare repeal if Trump, Republicans win in 2020

By Jessie Hellmann

August 8, 2019

Key Points:

• Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said this week that Republicans would push to repeal ObamaCare if they win back the House and President Trump is reelected in 2020.

• “If we can get the House back and keep our majority in the Senate, and President Trump wins reelection, I can promise you not only are we going to repeal ObamaCare, we’re going to do it in a smart way where South Carolina will be the biggest winner,” Graham said in an interview with a South Carolina radio station.

• Graham’s repeal bill, introduced in 2017, would eliminate major sections of ObamaCare, including subsidies that help people buy insurance and the Medicaid expansion that covers low-income adults in 36 states and Washington, D.C.

• The bill would essentially shift money from states like California that expanded Medicaid to states that didn’t, like South Carolina. Such a move could force some states to cut health care services and reduce eligibility.

• Previous GOP attempts to repeal ObamaCare were a driving force in Democrats taking back the House in 2018, and the issue has also reemerged among 2020 Democratic presidential hopefuls debating the best approach to health care.

• Democrats ran on protecting ObamaCare during the 2018 midterm elections and accused Republicans of trying to take away protections for those with pre-existing conditions.

• House and Senate Democrats plan to follow the same playbook in 2020, as the Trump administration supports a lawsuit that seeks to overturn the entirety of ObamaCare. 

• Graham on Tuesday touted his bill, which would allow states to opt out of consumer protections, like those that prevent insurers from charging people with pre-existing conditions more for coverage.

Read the full story here.

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