Let’s face it: if the GOP leadership can’t both accept this and then push it as a compromise, then what I’ve been saying for a year or so now is true: the GOP establishment really wants ObamaCare, because like the progressives, they are themselves big government statists looking to control a nation of subjects rather than represent a nation of free men and women.
That is, they embrace tyranny — with themselves as its stewards — and reject the very notion of limited government and constitutionalism. And we have, by default, a one-party system with two factions warring for control of that party, the end desire of each faction being a centralized government that reduces the states and the citizenry to mere functionaries of what amounts to a post-constitutional federal coup.
House Speaker Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Majority Leader Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) would do well to embrace new legislation introduced by Rep. Tom Graves (R-Ga.) that funds the government, and defunds and delays implementation of Obamacare until 2015.
It is the only continuing resolution on the table at the moment that achieves the simultaneous goals of avoiding a government shutdown while giving the American people a reprieve from being funneled into government-run, taxpayer-funded health care.
In a statement Americans for Limited Government President Nathan Mehrens praised the legislation and asked for support: “We urge all members to cosponsor this legislation and stand firm behind Rep. Graves effort.”
The bill as drafted defunds the discretionary aspects of the health care law pursuant to the administration of the law for one year, and puts a year delay on the execution of its mandatory aspects like the Medicaid expansion and the insurance state exchange subsidies. It would keep the total current sequestration level for discretionary spending for 2014.
For Boehner and Cantor, this is likely the only plan that will keep House Republicans together on the fight over the continuing resolution. It is an eminently tenable proposition, which is that if the White House is delaying Obamacare for big business, the unions, and special interests for a year, then the American people deserve the same treatment.
It is a good deal, and an honest and fair attempt at a compromise by Graves and his 42 original legislation cosponsors. They deserve the praise of the American people for their leadership on this issue.
For members who have taken the position that they cannot support a continuing resolution that allows Obamacare to be funded, this offers an opportunity to make their voices and that of their constituents heard. But they must be clear, postponement is not the end goal — repeal is.
Politically, the one-year delay will allow voters to render their verdict on the health care law via the 2014 midterm elections. Republicans can run on repeal, Democrats can run on keeping the law. With the employer mandate already delayed by Obama, and the state exchanges not yet ready for primetime, for all parties involved, this outcome is the best that could be hoped for considering the circumstances.
The alternative facing Boehner and Cantor is to present a continuing resolution that funds Obamacare that will tear the House Republican Conference apart, and could very well result in a government shutdown. Conservatives who have staked out a position that they cannot support a continuing resolution that funds Obamacare would be left in a tight spot.
For, if Boehner and Cantor do not embrace the plan, there will be no alternative for the pro-defund caucus. They must be prepared escalate their efforts to defeat the continuing resolution, even if it means a government shutdown.
Of course, it wouldn’t be the Republicans shutting down the government, but they seem incapable of making that case. But demanding that the American people be given the same exceptions Obama’s clients and cronies have gotten? Even a bumbling, burping, trained ubertanned monkey like Boehner should be able to sell that.
To give the American people relief from Obamacare and to avert a shutdown, House Republicans will need to present a united front to the Senate and the White House. The Graves plan offers the best chance of doing that, and in the process creates the opportunity to at least slow down the implementation of Obamacare.
Overall, this will set the political stage for 2014, where members and candidates can make their case to the American people that the health care law should never be allowed to go into effect. It is worth a shot.
As can kicking goes, this is actually a potentially non-catastrophic compromise: it can be sold as enforcing equality before the law — “fairness!” — while at the same time giving the defund ObamaCare contingent another year to press their case, to make the argument to the American people through ads and mailings, etc., while simultaneously giving the American people another year to express in no uncertain terms their desire to see ObamaCare fully repealed, and to get pledges out of their elected official, lest those officials be replaced by representatives who will agree to map their votes to their constituents’ desires.
Personally, I would like to see the GOP caucus get together over the defunding measures and let Obama shut down the government — at which point they can make the case that Obama has already exempted a number of special interests and clients (along with Congress itself) from ObamaCare’s implementation.
But our current leadership is spending all its time trying to figure out ways to fool us and fund ObamaCare — so the best we can hope for, thanks to the vigilance of the TEA Party constitutionalists, is a year reprieve.
Will Boehner and Cantor go for it?
I don’t think they want to because I think the GOP establishment wants the revenue and control universal health care affords the federal government. Or to put it another way, I think they are in favor of federal government expansion — that they are, regardless of Party affiliation — statists.
But they may have to at this point, however reluctantly.
Time will tell.
Georgia has been atoning for Jimmy Carter — and doing a pretty darn good job of it lately.
“. . . giving the American people a reprieve from being funneled into government-run, taxpayer-funded health care.”
I’m an ignorant cuss, but nevertheless, I still don’t understand why the American people don’t have their own option remaining in their hands, regardless what nonsense the establishment Congress ruling class may cook up?
That is, simply massively refuse to participate, striking out on their own in direct contravention of law, if need be, to create their own means and their own care. Who is going to stop them?
Boehner is a traitor, plain and simple.
Boehner’s been in politics long enough to understand that forcing Congressmen to go on record for or against Obamacare easily trumps government shutdown as an issue in the 2014 elections.
Sdferr, the massive refusal to participate should include tax payments. It’s the only way to starve the beast. But that would require millions of employees to demand that their employers go along with refusing to withhold payroll taxes. Unless done almost universally, the participants are nails to be hammered down.
I think it has to be done at the state level. Hard to treat a state like an individual. States have troops.
Agreed, RI. But just so we understand the problem people confront, I’d say they are on the verge of being required to pay for their own harm. I think as this comes home to them, they will naturally revolt. Who wouldn’t?
“Here, take hold of this hammer and smash your other hand with it. Whaddya mean, why? Because I told you so, that’s why!”
We may be getting there . I heard an announcement several times today on the radio that a certain hospital in northern NH was not chosen to be in a certain healthcare exchange. It’s going to leave some folks in a bind. So, maybe we’re going to have some, “Wait, whaaat? moments.