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On Obamacare: "Taken together, the news for the right is, well, pretty horrible."
Don’t call it a comeback
By Steve Benen
Congressional Republicans haven’t been shy about their 2014 plans. The entire election-year strategy comes down to obsessive opposition to the Affordable Care Act – the party assumes the law is unpopular, unworkable, and an electoral albatross for Democrats nationwide. Republicans don’t need to govern, the argument goes, they just need to wait for “Obamacare” to implode.
If party strategists worked on a Plan B, it might be time to dust off the file. As Greg Sargent noted this morning, “There are increasing signs that the GOP’s total war opposition to Obamacare is becoming tougher to sustain.
Consider, for example, the latest enrollment news.
Note, this doesn’t include the more than 6 million Americans who’ve been able to enroll in Medicaid since the start of the open-enrollment period. What’s more, keep in mind that the enrollment totals are expected to continue to grow – uninsured consumers who don’t choose a plan by the end of March risk facing a fine, so we may yet see another upsurge.
<...>
Taken together, the news for the right is, well, pretty horrible. Enrollment totals are growing steadily; Medicaid is expanding access to millions; the rate of uninsured is dropping; consumers who thought they’d hate the ACA now see the law as a “godsend”; healthcare.gov is stable and passing its security tests “with flying colors”; the insurance industry is cautiously optimistic; and the list of Republican governors who claim to hate “Obamacare” but continue to embrace Medicaid expansion continues to grow.
Heck, Mitch McConnell has even been reduced to running ads touting his efforts to bring health care to people in need.
- more -
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/dont-call-it-comeback
By Steve Benen
Congressional Republicans haven’t been shy about their 2014 plans. The entire election-year strategy comes down to obsessive opposition to the Affordable Care Act – the party assumes the law is unpopular, unworkable, and an electoral albatross for Democrats nationwide. Republicans don’t need to govern, the argument goes, they just need to wait for “Obamacare” to implode.
If party strategists worked on a Plan B, it might be time to dust off the file. As Greg Sargent noted this morning, “There are increasing signs that the GOP’s total war opposition to Obamacare is becoming tougher to sustain.
Consider, for example, the latest enrollment news.
The most recent data indicates that approximately 3.0 million people have now enrolled in a private health insurance plan through the Federal and State-based Marketplaces since October 1.
With millions transitioning to new coverage already, we continue to see strong interest nationwide from consumers who want access to quality, affordable coverage. As our outreach efforts kick into even higher gear, we anticipate these numbers will continue to grow, particularly as we reach even more uninsured young adults so that they know that new options and new ways to help eligible individuals pay for their premium are now available, thanks to the Affordable Care Act.
Note, this doesn’t include the more than 6 million Americans who’ve been able to enroll in Medicaid since the start of the open-enrollment period. What’s more, keep in mind that the enrollment totals are expected to continue to grow – uninsured consumers who don’t choose a plan by the end of March risk facing a fine, so we may yet see another upsurge.
<...>
Taken together, the news for the right is, well, pretty horrible. Enrollment totals are growing steadily; Medicaid is expanding access to millions; the rate of uninsured is dropping; consumers who thought they’d hate the ACA now see the law as a “godsend”; healthcare.gov is stable and passing its security tests “with flying colors”; the insurance industry is cautiously optimistic; and the list of Republican governors who claim to hate “Obamacare” but continue to embrace Medicaid expansion continues to grow.
Heck, Mitch McConnell has even been reduced to running ads touting his efforts to bring health care to people in need.
- more -
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/dont-call-it-comeback
60% Of KY GOPers Buck McConnell, Support Medicaid Expansion
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/poll-kentucky-obamacare-medicaid-expansion
Medicaid Expansion Has Already Cut The Number Of Uninsured West Virginians By A Third
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024366112
10 replies
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Mitch!
Utah’s Republican governor, Gary Herbert, announced yesterday that he’s finally prepared to accept Medicaid expansion. There are some ambiguities to the position – the governor doesn’t want to reject the funds, but some details need to be worked out as to how the policy will advance in Utah – but the state will expand Medicaid and cover more of the uninsured. Herbert’s decision will reportedly help bring coverage to 111,000 low-income adults in the state.
The announcement also helps ensure that most American states will now participate in Medicaid expansion, in one form or another. The number may yet soon grow, with Republicans policymakers in Michigan and Iowa giving the policy another look in recent weeks.
The announcement also helps ensure that most American states will now participate in Medicaid expansion, in one form or another. The number may yet soon grow, with Republicans policymakers in Michigan and Iowa giving the policy another look in recent weeks.
Keep spreading the news, ProSense!
also losing their most hopeful presidential candidate. So happy for them! 
sociopathic liars. 