With President Donald Trump’s 100th day in office approaching next week, CNN reports that the White House may attempt to repeal and replace Obamacare before this significant mark rolls around. After the House Republicans’ failed efforts to repeal Obamacare back in March, officials appear to have mixed views as to whether or not progress will be made this time.
“I don’t think it’s having to rewrite the bill,” a senior administration official told CNN. “It’s just a total trust gap. As soon as we solve that, we can have a vote.”
Both Trump and Vice President Mike Pence are optimistic about achieving a repeal as well. In an interview with WTMJ, Trump revealed that he still had faith in Speaker Paul Ryan’s ability to finalize their ideal healthcare plan, saying, “I think we are going to have a big win soon because we are going to have healthcare [and] I believe that’s going to happen...the plan is getting better, better all the time.” Hmm, sounds totally believable, right?
While our top leaders may be hopeful about change arriving soon, other White House sources aren’t so sure about passing new healthcare reforms, citing the quick timeline as a reason for concern. “We need to manage expectations,” another GOP source told CNN. “We’ve learned a lesson on arbitrary deadlines.”
Although passing healthcare might be on the top of some officials’ to-do lists, there’s also the threat of a government shutdown if funding isn’t resolved by April 28, when most federal government funding runs out. Debates over elements of healthcare such as essential health benefits and community rating have also prevented final decisions from solidifying.
In the end, it seems like repealing Obamacare before Trump’s 100-day mark might be wishful thinking on the president's part, but with this administration, I think we’ve learned a lesson about expecting the unexpected.