There’s been some finger-wagging that liberals shouldn’t be cheering the Republicans’ huge defeat on Trumpcare.
As everyone knows, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) didn’t actually put the bill up to a vote because it was doomed by defections from moderate Republicans and Freedom Caucus members alike. And President Trump didn’t know the bill well enough to whip votes, Politico Magazine embarrassingly reports.
Yes, there are many other fights ahead on the debt ceiling, tax policy, Russian interference in our election, etc. And I don’t think Trump and Ryan are giving up the ghost of killing Obamacare, no matter what they say.
So if Democrats want to take the opportunity to craft some fixes for the Affordable Care Act, I think that’s great.
But for the time being, it’s OK to celebrate that a bad policy died. Because that means:
- 24 million people get to keep their health insurance.
- People won’t see massive insurance rate increases.
- People with pre-existing conditions won’t be priced out of care.
- Essential health benefits, like prenatal and post-natal care, are still protected.
- Seniors won’t be targeted for rate increases.
- The more than 650,000 people who gained insurance through the Medicaid expansion in Michigan are safe.
- Small business owners and the self-employed can get better rates on policies through competition afforded by the health care exchange.
And there’s a whole lot more. So go ahead and revel in the fact that Republicans failed to do what they’ve promised for seven long years. Go ahead and celebrate that people’s lives will be better without Trumpcare. After all, there haven’t been a lot of reasons to smile since November 8.