Rand Paul Is Not Happy: Senate GOP Bill Doesn’t Really Repeal Obamacare

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. introduces Transportation Secretary-designate Elaine Chao at her confirmation hearing before Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, on Capitol Hill in Washington... Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. introduces Transportation Secretary-designate Elaine Chao at her confirmation hearing before Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Zach Gibson) MORE LESS
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Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) on Thursday said that while he has yet to review the Senate’s Obamacare repeal bill, he is concerned that it does not actually repeal Obamacare.

Paul told reporters that he and a “team of people” will release a statement on the legislation later on Thursday, likely around 1 or 2 p.m. ET.

“My concern is that this doesn’t repeal Obamacare,” Paul told reporters, noting that the legislation offered by Senate GOP leaders keeps many of the Affordable Care Act’s regulations and still offers subsidies.

Paul also said that the bill might not do enough to bring down premiums. He said that it appears that the legislation “actually subsidizes the death spiral of Obamacare” instead of fixing it.

Tierney Sneed contributed reporting.

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Notable Replies

  1. My concern is that this doesn’t repeal Obamacare,” Paul told reporters,

    He then continued, “but I’ll vote for it anyways…

  2. Rand is so thirsty for attention and is being overly dramatic here.
    We really should know by now that he will be a yes vote despite his theatrics

  3. Serious, snark-free question here: Is it actually possible to completely repeal the ACA via reconciliation? I’m not sure it is, which means repeal isn’t an actual objective here.

    That being the case, why is he complaining? He’s in the Senate, and he’s free to write and submit a full repeal bill if he likes.

    I must be missing something.

  4. Please Sen. Paul, enlighten us on your policies that would reduce premiums.

  5. Exactly. But that would mean more work and less grandstanding for the cameras.

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