A year after GOP measure's demise, Democrats see health care as a winning issue
By Mike DeBonis and Amy Goldstein
July 25 at 7:24 PM
One year ago, with the flick of his thumb, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) foiled the Republican Partys quest to undo the Affordable Care Act and fulfill a seven-year promise to remake the health-care system.
Now, three months from the midterm elections, health care remains a gaping political vulnerability for the GOP. Although Republicans have been unable to produce an alternative to the law, they have succeed in undoing key provisions that critics say are leading to rising premiums for individual buyers of health insurance.
The Trump administration has acted unilaterally to undo aspects of the Obama-era law through executive powers, cutting insurer subsidy payments, slashing advertising and targeting the legislation in courts. The steps have pleased conservatives but have undermined an increasingly popular law that tens of millions of voters rely on.
Democrats consider health care more than any other issue their best chance to persuade swing voters in key races nationwide. The partys candidates and political committees are already on air with ads targeting Republicans who backed the repeal and replace effort, and they expect to spend tens of millions of dollars attacking the GOP on health care over the next 100 days.
Its effective everywhere, said Charlie Kelly, executive director of the House Majority PAC. This is an issue thats been Number One across the board in every election. I dont see that changing, and its something were going to be talking about from now until Election Day.
more
https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/a-year-after-gop-bills-demise-democrats-see-health-care-as-a-winning-issue/2018/07/25/930cd7f6-8fb8-11e8-bcd5-9d911c784c38_story.html