“Republicans have railed for seven years against the “budget gimmicks” and lack of transparency they say Democrats used to help pass Obamacare. But now as they start debate on their repeal bill, Republicans say the plan's price tag and estimates of how many people it will cover aren’t really important.”
But there was no “budget gimmicks” and lack of transparency. Here is the first hour and a half of the 2010 bipartisan summit on health care between the White House and Congress. And there were others.
But there was no “budget gimmicks” and lack of transparency. Here is the first hour and a half of the 2010 bipartisan summit on health care between the White House and Congress. And there were others.
Bipartisan Meeting on Health Reform: Part 1
When Democrats passed Obamacare without a single Republican vote in 2010, Republicans railed against the “budget gimmicks” and “lack of transparency” they said Democrats used – even though the bill was debated for months, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office provided detailed cost and coverage estimates, and dozens of hearings were held.
But now, with their bill to repeal and “replace” it, Republicans say their plan's price tag and estimates of how many people it will cover aren’t really important. Forget the hearings, forget the analyses, forget the facts. Republicans are even trying to discredit whatever numbers the Congressional Budget Office comes up with.
Trump and the Republicans would rather function in a fact-free universe. That way, they can make up whatever they want to hear. The rest of America will pay the price.
By Jennifer Haberkorn
