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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Speaks in an interview with Reuters in Washington on October 17, 2018. (Joshua Roberts / Reuters)
Felicia Sonmez
National Journalist in the Washington Post Political Press Team
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Said Wednesday that Republicans could again try to repeal the Affordable Care Act after the November mid-term elections, reviving a subject that, according to polls, has rocked heavily in favor of Democrats.
In an interview with Reuters, McConnell said that his party's failure last year to repeal the health care law, also known as Obamacare, was "the only disappointment of this Congress from the point of view of view of the Republicans. "
"If we had the votes to start all over again, we would do it. But that depends on what happens in a few weeks. . . . We are not happy with how Obamacare works, "said McConnell.
Republicans are optimistic about their chances of staying in control of the Senate next month, as polls suggest Democrats' takeover of the House is more and more likely.
Last May, the House passed a bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, with 20 Republicans and all Democrats voting no. Two months later, a "lean repeal" effort in the Senate failed a vote as a senator. John McCain (R-Arizona), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) opposed the measure. McCain died of brain cancer in August.
Polls show health care is a priority issue for voters, and many GOP candidates have started campaigning on a long-standing theme for Democrats – protecting people with pre-existing medical conditions – even though Congressional Republicans had voted many times to repeal the Affordable Care Act that provides these protections.
A poll in the Washington Post-ABC News released Sunday showed Democrats that they had an 18-point advantage over Republicans over which party voters trusted to do a better job of Health care. Eighty-two percent of respondents said that health care was "one of the most important issues" or "a very important issue" in their vote for Congress this year.
The repeal of the Affordable Care Act, however, remains popular with the Republican base, and McConnell's remarks may be aimed at training key constituents ahead of next month's elections.
The Democrats immediately seized McConnell's comments with the Democratic National Committee, Speaker of the House of Democratic Democrats in the Senate, Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), And Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (DN.Y. ) publishing statements qualifying them as indicators. Republican plans to remove protections for pre-existing conditions if they kept control of the Senate.
"Americans should not be deceived: if the Republicans keep the Senate, they will do everything in their power to take health care away from families and increase their costs," he said. act to eliminate protections for pre-existing conditions, to repeal the health care law or cut Medicare and Medicaid, "Schumer said in a statement. "Americans should take Senator McConnell at his word."
Pelosi said the Republicans "continue to reveal the truth" while Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) says in a tweet McConnell's statement points out that Republicans "really come after your health care."
"I mean, they do not care about anything after all that – pre-existing conditions, essential health benefits – mental health, privatization of VA – Medicare, Medicaid," said Schatz. "They believe that more health care means less freedom or something like that. In any case, we must dismiss them.
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