Repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act will be a monumental task, and as a leaked recording shows, some Republicans lawmakers are deeply concerned about the political risks.
One of those lawmakers is Sen. Lamar Alexander, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. He said Republicans’ goal should be a “long-term solution that lowers costs” rather than a quick fix, according to The Washington Post, which obtained a recording of closed session at the GOP’s retreat in Philadelphia.
Alexander has previously called for a cautious approach to a GOP healthcare overhaul, suggesting that lawmakers only repeal the law once “there are concrete, practical reforms in place.”
Another congressman, Rep. Tom MacArthur, R-N.J., expressed concern that Republicans’ actions would lead to many Americans losing coverage, according to the New York Times, which also obtained a copy of the recording.
“We’re telling those people that we’re not going to pull the rug out from under them, and if we do this too fast, we are in fact going to pull the rug out from under them,” he said.
Rep. John Faso, R-N.Y., meanwhile, cautioned that cutting off funds for Planned Parenthood as part of an ACA repeal could open up Republicans to more public scrutiny and set up an even more contentious battle with Democrats.
“We are just walking into a gigantic political trap if we go down this path of sticking Planned Parenthood in the health insurance bill,” he said, according to the Post article.
Despite some members’ misgivings, however, Republicans wrapped up their retreat with a plan to replace the ACA through a series of smaller bills, according to Roll Call. As for how to get such bills through the Senate, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise said he is counting on President Donald Trump to make use of his “bully pulpit” to lean on Democrats to win their support.