January 8, 2017bcnn1wp

President Obama Says the Affordable Care Act Will Survive, Tells Republicans Not to “Undo Things Just Because I Did Them”

CARLOS BARRIA/REUTERS
CARLOS BARRIA/REUTERS

President Barack Obama said he believes his signature legislative achievement, the Affordable Care Act, will survive after he leaves office later this month. In an interview with ABC News that aired Sunday, Obama implored Republicans to not “undo things just because I did them,” and echoed his belief that millions of people will suffer if Republicans move to repeal Obamacare.

“It is true theoretically that all that progress can be undone, and suddenly 20 million people or more don’t have health insurance,” Obama said. “But, as I think Republicans are now recognizing, that may not be what the American people—including even Trump voters—are looking for.”

Obama added that he will rally behind Republicans if they propose a better healthcare plan, but said he is skeptical because they “wouldn’t cooperate” when the legislation was initially passed in 2010. Congressional Republicans have already moved to repeal the law, but it is unclear when a replacement plan will be put up for a vote. Some Republicans, notably Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, are pushing for a replacement to be approved “the same day” Obamacare is repealed.

“If in fact the Republicans make some modifications—some of which I may have been seeking previously, but they wouldn’t cooperate because they didn’t want to make the system work—and re-label it as Trumpcare, I’m fine with that,” Obama said.

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SOURCE: The Daily Beast – Andrew Desiderio