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OBAMACARE

John Boehner: Obamacare Is the Law of the Land

Repeal off the table, says House Speaker

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by Mary Noble

Senior Editor t +

Image: AP

"Obamacare is the law of the land," said John Boehner in an interview on Thursday, a statement that is bound to incense other Republicans bent on the health care law's repeal.

The House Speaker was responding to a question from ABC's Diane Sawyer, who asked if he would hold another repeal vote. No, said Boehner: "the election changes that."

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Do you think Boehner will stand by this statement, or try again to repeal Obamacare?

97 Comments (view in Forum)

  • David944
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    I wonder how many liberals in my tax bracket are going to pissed off when they find they can’t afford health insurance required by law and end up paying the tax. That’s one they cannot blame on Bush.
  • LGRepublican
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    I wonder how many of those same types will be shocked and outraged when their employer decides it's cheaper to pay the fine than provide them with insurance? I'd love to see the faces of all those Obamaites when they're suddenly shoved into the exchange for their insurance.
  • MikeC
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    The employer does not have to provide insurance unless they have over 50 employees. It is obvious you have not studied the law and are just repeating somebody elses "opinion."

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  • stepped_in_it
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    Either way, I like the "idea" of Obamacare! BUT, can I afford health care.....NOPE. At $350 (or so) a month for a single......NOPE. It's a great idea....but can't see how it will lower that rate. Name a government regulated thing where the price went down (and Obamacare is a government attempt to "regulate")! I am a late 50's guy, blood pressure 100/70, heart rate 60, weight normal, no prescriptions (ie....better shape than "most" 30 somethings). Yep, been blessed, but, I work on it! Only see the Dr.'s when I need them (about every...hell, can't remember). Take care of myself, eat right (no fast foods/fried foods/very little beef), exercise my body and mind. What does that get me? The same rate of a late 50's high blood pressure/ over weight/ couch potato man who's prescriptions are filled out every 90 days. My JOB seems to be "exempt" from having to provide health care (and I work for a state entity...go figure). So, my choice, come 2014 (if my employer doesn't change) is buy UNNEEDED health coverage (and not eat at all), pay the "tax" (and not eat at all) or quit working, go on government subsidies (my back is tired/hurting) and live in the lap of luxury (and then I can eat!). LMBO!!
  • David944
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    My insurance cost $475.00 a month with a $3000.00 dollar deductable that’s just me. My evil rich boss makes me pay $35.00 dollars a week to help maintain it (only being sarcastic I really appreciate his generosity). The way things are going insurance will be the least of my worries before too long. Business is bad and it’s only going to get worse. I also have to make hard choices for dinner last night I ate turkey sandwiches (lunch meat).
  • RobertJHarsh
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    Boehner should be commenting on the new "criminal class" that Obamacare as created, those who either cannot health insurance or refuse to buy it. They will become tax evaders under the law, especially if they cannot afford to pay the fines. And what happens to tax evaders who run afoul? If they have some stuff, they get it taken away but if you have nothing, jail is in your future. Imagine, you can lose your home and have your wages garnished for refusing to buy health insurance. That is what I call freedom!
  • David944
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    Don’t blame Boehner we get the government we deserve. Elections have consequences and I have a feeling you are going to be very upset with things to come.
  • methinks
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    Actually it's RINO, but he's not. He's pragmatic now. It is what it is. I just hope that Obama was genuine when he said he'll work with Boehner moving forward. Only time will tell.
  • martydotcom
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    There is no reason health care should be for profit. Medicare works damn well.
    I listened to an Interview of the CEO of a NY 1000+ bed plus hospital in NYC & a CEO in Toranto. NYC has 115 employees working on obtaining pre approvals, resolving/filing claims and collections = Collected as a percent of billed <60% Toranto had 2 employees doing the same job Collections 99.9 %
    Add in the overhead expense, advertising, commissions, etc. of insurance companies what do we the people gain from having health care for profit
  • Sonny
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    @Jack-Black Oh not to worry, jack. I'm sure there will always be ways for vulture capitalist to make a buck in this country...
  • Vet
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    There really is little sense in even discussing this, as well as any of Obama's policies, & Tax increases, soon to dig into all of our pockets.! We had the chance to defeat Obama, yet, many did not vote, thus we did not do the job. Now we must pay..!!!
  • methinks
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    Didn't mean to vote you up.

    There's a difference between flip-flopping and pragmatism. That's Boehner now; a pragmatist. It is what it is. As I stated in another post, I hope Obama is genuine when he said he'll work with Boehner now.
  • DogLady_1
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    It would behoove us all to learn a bit more about ACA. From many of the comments here, it appears that the campaign rhetoric is about all some people know about it. Those that cannot afford health insurance will be able to shop for a policy that works for them and the balance of what they cannot pay will be subsidized with federal money. We will save money from fewer people using the ER for non-emergency medical care, and by having a healthier workforce. there is nothing worse for our economy than people having to lose their jobs over a preventable/treatable illness, all because they couldn't afford medical checkups and care. A healthy workforce means increased productivity... and that's good for everyone, including employers...
  • LGRepublican
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    What obamacare doesn't take into consideration is that one of the ways it "saves" money is to cut back on what it pays providers. Don't be a bit surprised if more and more providers start refusing to take patients with those "policies". Eventually I see a two tiered healthcare system, one where the providers only take private insurance and cash patients and the other where those on "government" plans are herded into assembly line facilities. If you think healthcare providers are going to lose money, think again.
  • methinks
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    @LGRepublican That's where it's going to hurt people, especially seniors. That's were the $716 B in savings comes from--paying providers less. The Mayo Clinic in Arizona has already stopped accepting new Medicare patients because of this. It is only the beginning. Doctors are already leaving PA in droves because of malpractice insurance costs, and when you factor in lower payments from the government, that exodus will only increase.

    This is another unforeseen consequence of "free" healthcare. What good will it be when the number of healthcare practitioners decreases and you have to wait longer for appointments? Hmmm...I've heard that situation happening elsewhere in the world...
  • David944
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    Suppose your family plan cost $ 1200.00 a month and the government subsidizes 80% you pay $240.00 a month. Can you afford another $240.00 a month? These numbers are guesses because I have not seen any projections for how much the government will cover or any sort of projection for means tested cut off limits on income. Have you; please provide a link if possible. What happens if you have insurance through your employer and they elect to pay the fine? How much will your fine be in comparison to the cost of buying insurance on your own? I think the devil is in the details but what are the details.
  • DogLady_1
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    The ACA is fully explained on the gov't website... the website includes the actual text of the law as well so people can form their own conclusions, not merely relying on a partisan pundit to tell you what to think. One of the features is that annual check ups will be free. Preventive medicine is always cheaper than treating disease. Another is the set up of insurance exchanges whereby a person can shop in one place and compare available policies to suit their needs. This is where the private insurance companies will benefit... and the consumer benefits because the comnaies will now have some healthy competition, and there will be better oversight... the ACA also limits how much and how many times a person's premiums go up. The watchdog agency will be staffed with private citizens AND lawmakers.
    here is thre website: http://www.healthcare.gov/law/features/index....

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  • taw0509
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    The last 4 years Boehner and others used the Obamacare as an excuse to stop anything and everything to discredit the President. All along it was just political tactics, now the trueth will prevail to see that Boehner nor the others actually has plans to keep making the same stupid mistakes that is costing this country, for the next 4 years the Boehner and the rest in Washington will have to give it their "ALL" to working TOGETHER, because the ONLY WAY for the RUPUBLICAN PARTY can prove themselves worthy in Washington is to do everything in their power to MOVE FORWARD and PROVE their ACTIONS in the next 4 years so that the REPUBLICAN PARTY can prove to the AMERICAN PEOPLE they are worthy to have a candidate in the White House. Folks, The election is past, but AMERICA is WATCHING the RUPUBLICAN PARTY everyday to see if the Party will stand in the future. No more games in Washington, NO MORE FOOLISH BEHAVIOR, POUTY DIVIDE and make darn sure EVERYONE IS SHOWING UP AT MEETINGS, NO EMPTY SEATS in SESSION. American's expect ACCOUNTABILITY IN WASHINGTON. REPUBLICAN VOTERS ARE WATCHING!
  • KoolD
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    It is true it is the law. However, funding this law is lurking in the background. This is largely an unfunded mandate. So those of you waiting for your free health care get ready to bend over. Nothing is free about this, time will prove that it will choke itself out. There is no money now and without it coming from somewhere nothing changes. Plus seeing a Real Dr. Good luck with that. You will see a health care professional which will be as close as you ever get. Welcome to the new healthcare plan.
  • MikeC
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    The Affordable Health Care law will help a lot of people out that do not have insurance. It will add allow people to buy insurance across state line from insurance pools and competition reduces the price of insurance. Being a woman will no longer be an existing condition, college students will be able to remain on their parents policy, people with pre-existing conditions will be able to get insurance, insurance companies will no longer be able to limit the amount of care a person receives after they get sick....According to the CBO the Health Care law will save our country over a trillion dollars over the next ten years. Hospitals will no long have to cover the cost of the uninsured....The only reason a lot of people object to this is because they are full of hate and misinformation!
  • AJR
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    I agree. Other Nations provide Heathcare for their citizens. IF doctors don't want to care for patients, then they need to get a new job. Exactly what I told my doctor !!
  • EquinsuOcha
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    Save money??!! Uh, no.........http://www.forbes.c om/sites/aroy/2012/09/20/cbo-1 1-million-uninsured-americans- will-be-subject-to-obamacares- individual-mandate-penalty-tax /
  • MikeC
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    @EquinsuOcha Yes, competition does lower the price aka saves money. The free loaders should pay a penalty just like people that do not carry auto insurance get fined.
  • jessejaymes
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    This is only the first step to true socialized medicine which I support. I'm a gun nut, pro english, pro controlling the border, pro workfare, anti welfare and on and on. I am a conservative. But this is something that has to happen. Germany and every other industrialized nation has socialized medicine except us. It's time.
  • F22Falcon
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    Repeal has been tabled. However, one major impact will be the number of jobs that are changed from full time to part time to get the companies under the threshold.
  • lochlomond
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    Although Obama's victory was not exactly a mandate, and I am quoting David Axelrod, the fact remains that he has been returned to office and the Republican Party has been humiliated. Boehner is admitting defeat, that the perception of the Republican Party is that it is an entity run for by and of rich old white men who neither know nor care about the issues that confront the diverse population of this country. In order to promote Romney, it disposed of more representative candidates and insulted the significant Ron Paul following by barring them from their convention. It appears that the difference in the popular vote may well have been the number of people who supported Paul in the primaries. Obamacare is here to stay and we will, starting in 2013, begin to see the changes in the structure of medical care and insurance. Once implemented, it will be virtually impossible to turn back the clock. Boehner knows that his party has rendered itself almost obsolete. It has failed to attract the youth and minority voters and is no longer a viable alternative to the socialist trend that actually began years ago. The gridlock in Congress has been circumvented by executive orders and has diminished the membership to a purely ceremonial role. In my area, the Republican Party is so weak that it rarely puts candidates on the ballot. If one is not a registered Democrat, there is no one to vote for in the primaries. Unless one of the minor parties can attract followers, we are well on our way to a one-party system in which voting is irrelevant. Boehner will shine the shoes of Obama and any other influential Democrat to save his own position until he is voted out or retires. The next four years will result in significant unchallenged changes in the structure and institutions of this country. Most Americans will be unaware of them until they have come to pass.
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