ICYMI: Republicans Losing Badly on Health Care and They Know It

July 26, 2018

Years of repeal, sabotage, and attempted destruction – House Republicans have done nothing but fail the American people on health care. It’s the top issue for voters from coast to coast. Republicans are losing badly on it, and they know it.

Washington Post: A year after GOP measure’s demise, Democrats see health care as a winning issue
By Mike DeBonis and Amy Goldstein
July 25, 2018

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.

“It’s effective everywhere,” said Charlie Kelly, executive director of the House Majority PAC. “This is an issue that’s been Number One across the board in every election. I don’t see that changing, and it’s something we’re going to be talking about from now until Election Day.”

Kelly’s group just this week began running a new round of ads targeting Republican House incumbents for their support of the failed GOP health-care bill. The ads highlight an “age tax” — a provision that would have let insurers to charge older policyholders up to five times as much as younger ones, reversing an ACA regulation that allows no more than a 3 to 1 ratio.

Many Republican lawmakers and strategists interviewed this week conceded that GOP candidates are broadly vulnerable on the issue. 

Rep. Garland “Andy” Barr (R-Ky.), one of the incumbents targeted this week by the House Majority PAC, said that he, too, is ready to focus on GOP support for community health centers, medical research funding and combating opioid abuse — and that he is confident that voters will not ignore the Democratic attacks.