Its not impossible: Four ways Republicans could still take action on Obamacare

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Senate Republicans waved the white flag last week on their months-long effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act. But by the looks of his Twitter account, President Trump really wants Congress to keep trying.

Link to tweet

There are a few ways Congress could restart its efforts to repeal the ACA, or Obamacare, but most would exact a serious cost on Republicans' agenda, their popularity and the health insurance markets.

Link to tweet

But since the president wants to know, here are four ways Obamacare repeal could rise from the dead, ranked from least to most likely.

4. The Trump administration lets parts of Obamacare collapse.

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3. Republicans push off tax reform.


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2. Senators who were a “no” become a “yes.”

Depending on what plan Republicans would put up, they would need from three to six Republicans to change their minds.

But: For this to work, something drastic would have to change in the legislation. The Senate's repeal/replace bill lost six Republican votes last week, from conservatives and moderates.

-snip-

1. Republicans start working with Democrats to make tweaks to Obamacare.

Surprise! The most likely option to revive Obamacare repeal isn't to repeal it at all.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/07/31/its-not-impossible-four-ways-republicans-could-revive-health-care-ranked-least-to-most-likely/?utm_term=.f7775f06732c&wpisrc=nl_rainbow&wpmm=1

[Proud Liberal Dem]

1. #1 should have been the obvious choice from the start

but since the Republicans spent 7 years talking about nothing but repealing it, they felt like they had to try- or risk- being devoured by their base. They may still yet be devoured by their base because they failed but they can say they tried. There's very little political pressure for McCain, Murkowski, or Collins to change their votes anytime soon. McCain is dying and will (likely) never run again assuming he serves out the remainder of his term (which does put us at some risk of a replacement more favorable to repeal though Republicans are running out of time), Collins reportedly wants to run for Governor of Maine and a "Yes" vote would probably doom her, and Murkowski is an Independent, caucusing with but not necessarily beholden to the GOP. Plus, the Trump (mis-)Administration's threatening of her probably doesn't help either.