In a political showdown over the future of the Affordable Care Act, President Barack Obama, and Vice President-Elect Mike Pence spoke to members of their respective political parties on Capitol Hill about the fight over Obama’s signature piece of legislation.
In a closed-door meeting, President Obama reportedly told Democratic lawmakers not to rescue Republicans by helping them pass ACA replacement measures and even floated the idea of calling the Republican alternative to Obamacare, “Trumpcare.”
As Obama rallied support for his landmark legislation, Pence strategized with members of the Republican Party on how to gut the Affordable Care Act. Despite their perceived mandate to repeal and replace the healthcare reform law, Republicans have yet to offer a replacement for consideration.
Roland Martin chastised Republicans: “You would think in eight years you might come up with a plan if you don’t like this one.”
Anton Gunn, the former director of external affairs for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), discussed the looming political battle over Obamacare during Thursday morning’s edition of NewsOne Now.
Gunn told Martin Republicans don’t have a plan to replace the Affordable Care Act, adding, “All they wanted to do is undo the progress that we’ve made to improve health care for all Americans.
“The ACA is one of the most comprehensive and complex pieces of public policy our country has ever passed, so you can’t just undo it by saying you want to repeal it,” he said.
According to Gunn, many Americans benefit from the Affordable Care Act without knowing they are reaping rewards from the health care services it provides.
Gunn chided Republicans for their ongoing attempts to repeal Obamacare and said, “They’ve been chasing this ice cream truck and they have finally caught it ––let’s see what they do with it.”
Watch Roland Martin, Anton Gunn, and the NewsOne Now panel discuss the Affordable Care Act standoff taking place on Capitol Hill in the video clip above.
Watch NewsOne Now with Roland Martin, in its new time slot on TV One.
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