Obama Takes To The Hill To Brainstorm With Democrats On Strategy To Save Health Law
At the same time, Vice President-elect Mike Pence will meet with GOP lawmakers to discuss the best way to dismantle Obamacare. These separate strategy sessions will take place on the second day of the new Congress -- just a little more than two weeks before President-elect Donald Trump moves into the White House.
The Washington Post:
Obama To Huddle With Democrats On Protecting His Signature Health Care Law
President Obama will meet behind closed doors Wednesday morning with congressional Democrats to map out a strategy to defend the Affordable Care Act and other health care policies — the very day Republicans will begin debate on getting rid of the sweeping 2010 health-care law. Obama’s rare visit to Capitol Hill, 2 ½ weeks before Donald Trump assumes the presidency, marks the start of his administration’s final push to defend its achievements before handing over the reins of power in Washington. Next week, Obama will deliver his farewell address in his adopted hometown of Chicago. (Eilperin and Goldstein, 1/4)
The Wall Street Journal:
Obama To Discuss How To Salvage ACA With Democrats At The Capitol
The White House said that Mr. Obama will rally Democrats on Capitol Hill behind some of the broadly popular parts of the law, which include a ban on excluding people from coverage due to with pre-existing medical conditions and a provision allowing young adults to remain on their parents insurance plans until age 26. Republicans have vowed to keep those measures in place but will likely need to find alternative ways to pay for them. (Tau, 1/4)
NPR:
President Obama Tries To Salvage Obamacare From Trump
President Obama meets with Democrats on Capitol Hill today, looking for ways to preserve his signature health care law in the face of stiff Republican opposition. Senate Republicans have already taken the first step toward repealing Obamacare. On Tuesday, they introduced a budget resolution that would ultimately allow Republicans to unravel large parts of the Affordable Care Act with a simple majority vote. (Horsley, 1/4)
CQ Roll Call:
Obama, Pence To Hit The Hill To Rally Members On Obamacare
Obama — whose name adorns the colloquial term "Obamacare" used to refer to his landmark domestic achievement — aims to help Democrats strategize about how to publicize the law's benefits and defend it from Republican attacks. Already, Democrats have laid out plans for events aimed at heralding the law, including its impact on reducing the nation's uninsured rate to a record low. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., as well as House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., urged lawmakers in a letter last week to hold rallies and other events in support of the law on Jan. 15. (Mershon, 1/3)
The Associated Press:
Obama, Pence To Capitol As Health Care Overhaul Fight Begins
While they can hardly prevent the GOP repeal effort from proceeding, the president and House and Senate Democrats were meeting Wednesday to discuss how to best defend a law that's extended health insurance coverage to 20 million Americans and which Obama considers one of the proudest pillars of his legacy. "The more the people understand what's included in the Affordable Care Act and how they benefit from it, the more popular the program is, and the harder it is for Republicans to have political support for tearing it down," White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters Tuesday, using the law's formal name. (Fram, 1/4)
Politico:
Desperate Democrats Scramble For An Obamacare Strategy
Democrats don’t have the votes to stop Republicans from gutting Obamacare. So as they watch their signature domestic policy accomplishment about to be dismantled, they’re looking to the ground game that helped pass it seven years ago. They're holding rallies in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, featuring the stories of some of the red-state Americans who have benefited from the law. They’re urging followers to bombard lawmakers’ district offices and phone lines with calls against repeal. And they’re targeting moderate Republicans in Alaska, Arizona, Maine, Nevada and Tennessee who are up for reelection in 2018 — or who could be influential in the repeal vote — with a seven-figure television and print ad campaign. (Haberkorn and Pradhan, 1/4)