President Donald Trump has taken a step to roll back another part of President Obama’s legacy—Obamacare.
Congress couldn’t get the job done on repeal and replace of Obamacare, so a frustrated President Trump took matters into his own hands.
Thursday, he signed an executive order that he says will provide Americans with better and less costly health care.
After making a few remarks, the president warmly greeted those who came to see him sign a new executive order on healthcare. Vice President Mike Pence reminded him he had yet to sign the document.
Pence: “Mr. President …”
Trump: “Thank you, everybody!”
Pence: “Mr. President, you need to sign it.”
Trump: “Oh! Most important thing. I’m only signing it because it will cost nothing.”
But Democrats argue it will be costly to those covered by Obamcare—especially the sick. Former Obama economic advisor Austan Goolsbee told MSNBC, “That would be a catastrophic decision that will lead to millions of people losing their insurance.”
The president is ending some of Washington’s key subsidies for Obamacare. He says the government cannot legally pay $7 billion in Obamacare co-pays and deductibles because Congress has never appropriated specific money to do it. Trump insists the money would be better going to directly to the states for them to handle it.
President Trump’s order also promotes choice and competition by allowing the formation of health care associations—a favorite of small businesses and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky.
The executive decision also allows insurance to be purchased across state lines.
“So this is promoting health care, choice and competition all across the United States. This is going to be something that millions and millions of people will be signing up for and they’re going to be very happy. This will be great health care,” the president proclaimed.
Congressional Democrats argue the president is ripping apart Obamacare.
“The president is sabotaging health care and we have no action in the Congress,” said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.
And while the president says his executive order is the first step in repealing and replacing Obamacare—something the Senate has failed to do three times this year—House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., says legislating healthcare is best left up to Congress.
“If you first don’t succeed, try, try again. So, we just keep telling our Senate friends just keep at it.”
Reprinted with permission from CBN.com. Copyright The Christian Broadcasting Network, all rights reserved. {eoa}
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