(Bloomberg) — Inside the Republican party in Congress, there's a deepening split over Obamacare.
After much campaign talk about repealing the Affordable Care Act health coverage access programs in the first days of the Trump administration, some moderate Republicans are now wary of rapidly gutting the program without an alternative in place. Conservatives, meanwhile, are demanding an immediate roll-back before political momentum collapses.
Rep. Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania, said he wants a "fully developed and articulated" replacement plan before repeal goes forward. While he's voted in the past to repeal Obamacare without one, he said it's different now that it could actually happen.
"We're playing with live rounds this time," Dent said.
On the other hand are lawmakers like Rep. Trent Franks, an Arizona Republican and a member of the conservative Freedom Caucus. "I'm concerned that certain senators are going to go wobbly on even the repeal part of this effort," Franks said. "We have to move the strongest bill that we have there so we can at least gain that repeal."
The divisions come just as supporters of the law may be gaining some momentum. In the last several weeks, GOP lawmakers have been flooded with anti-repeal phone calls to their offices, and back in their districts have faced fiery exchanges at town halls with constituents worried about health care. Next week, they'll head home for a week-long break when many lawmakers plan to hold more town halls and other public events.
Fix, not repeal?
Some centrist House Republicans are even openly saying there's no need to fully repeal the Affordable Care Act.
"I've said all along, I think you need to fix the system," said freshman Rep. John Faso of New York. "Not all aspects of it, under anyone's formulation, would be 'repealed.' And we should keep what works, and fix what doesn't."
President Donald Trump and his administration have provided little in the way of detailed policy guidance for Republicans, saying that they were waiting for Tom Price to be confirmed as Health and Human Services secretary, which happened late last week.
The issue may to come to a head Thursday. House Republicans plan to hold a meeting then to discuss and possibly finalize Obamacare strategy, said Rep. Phil Roe, a Tennessee Republican.
Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., is the most visible promoter of the ACA 'bridge repair' strategy. (Photo: Diego Radzinschi/ALM)
Campaign promises
Republicans are wary of looking like they're backtracking on a major campaign promise, particularly a key block of conservatives who said Monday they'd oppose any legislation that doesn't go far enough to repeal Obamacare. Members of the Freedom Caucus are pushing for legislation that goes at least as far as a bill to repeal Obamacare that Congress passed in 2015, but was vetoed by President Barack Obama.
