Rand Paul: We should repeal Obamacare like Republicans promised, not just “fix” it

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Just when you think Republicans might move away from the bad ideas that are Obamacare-lite, stories are cropping up about the GOP looking at resurrecting or even expanding Obamacare’s Cadillac tax (In fact, it is already a part of Obamacare that is kept in the Paul Ryan plan).

Why? Primarily because it brings in revenue that the GOP wants to use to keep another Obamacare retread—federal subsidies for health insurance.

Proponents of taxing what they consider “excessive” insurance somehow believe they know better than you do how much insurance you need. Curiously, these same people would likely not be so presumptuous as to assert that consumers are spending too much on iPads, but when it comes to healthcare, all respect for consumer choice or free markets seems to evaporate.

I remember in the good old days when Republicans were not in favor of new taxes or new subsidies or dictates on how much insurance a person should buy. But that was a long time ago when the Tea Party stoked the nation’s consciousness, and the GOP rose to capture all three branches of government.

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How much Obamacare does the House bill keep? Well, if you add up the subsidies of Obamacare over a six-year period (2020-2026), you spend $624 billion. If you add up the Republican plan’s subsidies over the same period, you spend $588 billion. So, the GOP plan keeps over ninety percent of the Obamacare subsidies.

No wonder many conservatives are disappointed.

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That’s exactly what association buying plans do. We need to immediately legalize nationwide buying groups to allow people to pool together to get cheaper insurance and better terms. Buying groups would make the consumer king again and put the big insurance companies on notice that the taxpayer will no longer be their patsy.

We should immediately dispel any idea of subsidizing the purchase of insurance. Not one penny of taxpayer dollars should go to insurance companies. These same companies earn $15 billion a year in profit. Why, in heaven’s name, would we subsidize

I’ve spoken to President Trump about legalizing nationwide buying groups. Our legal counsel believes that current law allows the Secretary of Labor to do this without new laws.

So, instead of letting the unelected swamp at CBO skewer any legislation to alter Obamacare, President Trump could simply, on his own, legalize buying groups that have the potential to offer inexpensive insurance to the 20 million individuals that Obamacare failed to insure.

I imagine President Trump surrounded by already existing associations, such as the Chamber, the National Federation of Independent Business, and the American Farm Bureau, announcing that he is legalizing nationwide buying groups—now that’s a concept ALL Republicans could rally around.

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