The Day We’ve All Been Waiting For: Senate Repeals Most of Obamacare

The Day We’ve All Been Waiting For: Senate Repeals Most of Obamacare

Almost six years after President Obama’s hallmark legislation passed, Senate Republicans cobbled together enough votes to pass a bill that would repeal most of Obamacare.

Passing the Senate by a vote of 52 to 47 Thursday evening, the Senate’s revisions made for an even stronger bill than the House version, according to The Hill. The bill with its latest revisions will have to pass through the House once more before making it’s way to President Obama’s desk.

The Hill reported:

Thursday’s vote was a major event in the Senate, as Democrats never allowed a standalone vote on an ObamaCare repeal bill when they controlled the chamber.

Democrats were also unable to block the GOP measure, which was brought to the floor under budget reconciliation rules that prevented a filibuster.

“For too long, Democrats did everything to prevent Congress from passing the type of legislation necessary to help these Americans who are hurting,” McConnell said on the floor. “Today, that ends.”

If by some miracle this bill actually gets a signature from President Veto, Obamacare and it’s reign of health insurance premium terror will be dead. Mostly.

The measure guts the law by repealing authority for the federal government to run healthcare exchanges, and scrapping subsidies to help people afford plans bought through those exchanges. It zeros out the penalties on individuals who do not buy insurance and employers who do not offer health insurance.

It repeals the expansion of Medicaid adopted by 30 states as well as many of the law’s tax increases, which the House bill left in place.

It cuts funding for the Prevention and Public Health Fund and eliminates risk adjustment programs from insurance companies that lose money because of the law.

The House bill eliminates the individual and employer mandates, the Cadillac tax on expensive insurance plans and the medical device tax.

…The Senate bill also repeals the over-the-counter medicine tax, the prescription drug tax, an annual fee on health insurers and the tax on indoor tanning services. It reduces the threshold of healthcare costs that can be deducted from 10 percent to 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income.

Yes, President Obama will likely veto the bill once it hits his desk. Let him.

Health insurance premiums and deductibles continue to climb in spite of increasingly shoddy benefits. Half the non-profit co-ops created under Obamacare failed, sticking tax-payers with the tab. Not to mention the ongoing investigation of the largest non-profit co-op. The IRS estimates approximately 1.5 million individuals will lose their Obamacare subsidies for failure to file the proper paperwork. And independent Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans are an endangered species.

Dissatisfaction with Obamacare helped Republicans pick up a Senate majority in 2014 and the situation has only worsened since. Healthcare costs and access to healthcare remain the single most important issue to Americans.

Let President Obama, Hillary Clinton, and every other Democrat supporting Obamacare defend the dumpster fire legislation going into election season. Forget wasting time with various, supposedly witty iterations of “RINO” and Mitch McConnell-loathing; with complaints of symbolism over progress. Let.It.Happen. Sit back, light a cigarette, pour yourself a glass of bourbon, and watch the show. This newfound predicament provides no easy escape route for our Democratic foils. Meanwhile, Republicans succeeded in keeping their promise to voters coast to coast.

Tis a glorious thing to behold. Savor the moment… while it lasts.

Follow Kemberlee on Twitter @kemberleekaye

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