With a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court expected in the next two weeks on the Obama healthcare law, Republicans are making plans for how they will scrap the elements of the law that might still be standing if the court strikes it down.
Because several of the large insurers have said they will retain certain aspects of the law, such as allowing children up to age 26 to stay on their parents’ plans, Republicans in Congress say they will feel no pressure to immediately pass a new law to replace Obama’s.
Obamacare, as it has become known, was pushed through after intense debate in Congress, but the law has failed to catch on in popularity across the country—primarily because many of its measures intended to lower healthcare costs have yet to take effect. This leaves Republicans with that idea that Americans want the law to be repealed. But according to a story on NPR, they aren’t eager to propose a new law or take any action before the presidential election.
After the Supreme Court’s decision, “the goal is to repeal anything that is left standing,” said Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., a Republican party leader.
“We ought to go step by step to lower the cost,” he said, a view repeated by other Republicans.