Ted Cruz Opposes GOP Plan To Extend Obamacare Subsidies Nixed By SCOTUS

Campaign co-chair, former Speaker of the House Bill O'Brien listens at left as Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, talks about his campaign, Friday, May 29, 2015, in Concord, N.H. Cruz is on a ... Campaign co-chair, former Speaker of the House Bill O'Brien listens at left as Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, talks about his campaign, Friday, May 29, 2015, in Concord, N.H. Cruz is on a two-day campaign swing through the nation's earliest presidential primary state. (AP Photo/Jim Cole) MORE LESS
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Add Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) to the list of conservatives resisting any plan that would temporarily extend Obamacare subsidies if the Supreme Court strikes them down later this month.

The 2016 GOP White House contender told Politico he would fight a Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)-endorsed proposal to extend the subsidies through 2017, when Republicans hope a Republican president would be in office to push a comprehensive alternative to Obamacare.

Many Republicans in the House have exhibited a similar skepticism to extending the subsidies. However, the Senate GOP has begun to rally around legislation by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), which would extend the subsidies on the condition that other provisions of the law — including the individual mandate — are repealed. Thirty-one senators have signed on to the proposal, which is believed to be a nonstarter for Democrats. Policy experts also say it is an unworkable solution.

Fearing a political blowback, Republicans are scrambling to put together a back-up plan in the case that the Supreme Court rules in favor of the challengers in King v. Burwell, a lawsuit pushed by conservative activists. The challengers argue that a phrase in the Affordable Care Act disallows the flow of federal subsidies to health care consumers in states without state-run insurance exchanges. If the court agrees, some 6.4 million people in 34 states are expected to lose their tax credits, which could have an even broader impact on the health care insurance market.

In the interview with Politico, Cruz threw his support behind the so-called “off ramp” plan, an approach offered by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and other House Republicans that would allow states to stop participating in most aspects of Obamacare.

“In a perfect world, we would take that opportunity to repeal Obamacare. At a minimum, we should allow states to opt out,” Cruz said.

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Notable Replies

  1. And the GOP continues the never ending “I’ve got mine- eff you!” routine.

  2. Avatar for dnl dnl says:

    Republicans Scrambling…

    That happens when no viable plans are available…

    It’s tough to change from making President Obama a one termer.

  3. In a perfect world, Ted, you’d be sweeping horseshit off the streets in Havana.

  4. Republicans haven’t shown an alternative health insurance plan yet that is worth considering. They haven’t shown interst in crafting one. What they do want in my estimation is health care only for those who can afford it out of pocket. They don’t want to lessen the cost of insurance or what companies can offer. They also don’t give a damn about the actual cost of medical procedures. Example: the cost of my total knee replacement was $67,000 according to the hospital bill. 55 miles to my south in Nogales, Mexico I could get the same procedure with the same surgeon and adequate hospital facilities for $2500-$4000.
    Cruz is one of those who doesn’t give two shits about anything other than himself.

  5. Why is it that these ultra-conservative psychopaths feel that what is most important is to adhere to narrow interpretations of the constitution and what their plutocrat owners dictate to them?

    Whatever happened to doing what is best for the common good?

    I guess looking to these boot lickers, the “common good” sounds like communism.

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