In the wake of last night’s election, President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid have both said they’re open to “tweaks” of the Affordable Care Act, but don’t think they have any interest in fundamentally changing the law.
Obama said today he thinks the 1099 provisions for small business in the ACA are too “burdensome,” so that small piece of the huge law may be repealed. But asked at a press conference today whether the ACA is in danger – House Republicans vow to pass a repeal bill – Obama said, “We’d be misreading the election if we thought the American people want to see the next two years spent re-litigating” the law.
In other words, move along, nothing to see here, folks. As I wrote yesterday, repeal is not going to happen. But Republicans, perhaps looking for a distraction from the congressional gridlock we’re likely to see over the next two years, intend to keep harping on the ACA.
This morning, I talked to Rep. Steve King, a conservative House Republican who wants to lead the repeal effort in that chamber. He spoke freely of the possibility of a government shutdown over the issue, while deftly saying shutdown “wouldn’t be good for anybody.” I asked him whether he thinks congressional Republicans have the guts to force a shutdown, even though it was a disaster for Newt Gingrich in the 1990s. “I can tell you that I do,” he replied, “I’m not changing my mind by the way, just in case anybody wonders.”
Ok yes, this may be bluster. But King called for “confrontations” and said the incoming Republican freshman class in the House “puts some extra spine into our conference.” He also cited Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson as someone who might support a repeal effort in the Senate.
The real political question here is this. Will opposition to a nearly foregone conclusion – the Affordable Care Act – hold up as a salient GOP issue the party can rely on for the next two years? Around half or less of the American public supports repeal. My sense is that health care reform makes for a better rallying cry on the campaign trail than it does in the legislative doldrums between elections.
And a h/t to Ben Smith, who posted the following list of House Democrats who voted against the health care bill and how they fared last night. (Hint: half still lost)
Scott Murphy (N.Y. 20) – LOSS
Bobby Bright (ALA. 2) – LOSS
Frank Kratovil Jr. (MD. 1) – LOSS
Walt Minnick (IDAHO 1) – LOSS
Eric Massa (N.Y. 29) – RESIGNED
Parker Griffith (ALA. 5) – SWITCHED PARTIES, LOST PRIMARY
John Adler (N.J. 3) – LOSS
Glenn Nye (VA. 2) – LOSS
Chet Edwards (TEX. 17) – LOSS
Travis Childers (MISS. 1) – LOSS
John Boccieri (OHIO 16) – LOSS
Larry Kissell (N.C. 8) – WIN
Jason Altmire (PA. 4) – WIN
Harry Teague (N.M. 2) – LOSS
Betsy Markey (COLO. 4) – LOSS
Jim Marshall (GA. 8) – LOSS
Suzanne Kosmas (FLA. 24) – LOSS
Dennis J. Kucinich (OHIO 10) – WIN
Lincoln Davis (TENN. 4) – LOSS
Allen Boyd (FLA. 2) – LOSS
Heath Shuler (N.C. 11) – WIN
Tim Holden (PA. 17) – WIN
Michael E. McMahon (N.Y. 13) – LOSS
Brian Baird (WASH. 3) – RETIRED
Jim Matheson (UTAH 2) – WIN
Ben Chandler (KY. 6) – WIN
Ike Skelton (MO. 4) – LOSS
John Barrow (GA. 12) – WIN
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (S.D.) – LOSS
Mike McIntyre (N.C. 7) – WIN
Dan Boren (OKLA. 2) – WIN
Collin C. Peterson (MINN. 7) – WIN
Bart Gordon (TENN. 6) – RETIRED
Gene Taylor (MISS. 4) – LOSS
Mike Ross (ARK. 4) – WIN
Rick Boucher (VA. 9) – LOSS
Artur Davis (ALA. 7) – RETIRED, RAN FOR GOVERNOR
Charlie Melancon (LA. 3) – RETIRED
John Tanner (TENN. 8) – RETIRED