After former President Barack Obama vetoed Republican’s attempt to repeal Obamacare in 2016, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan was adamant that Republicans, under his leadership, would successfully dismantle Obamacare once the nation had a Republican president.
Obama’s veto of the Republican repeal bill in January, 2016 was widely expected, but it was significant in that it was the first time GOP lawmakers were able to get repeal legislation to the president’s desk. Following the veto, Obama wrote: “rather than re-fighting old political battles by once again voting to repeal basic protections that provide security for the middle class, members of Congress should be working together to grow the economy, strengthen middle-class families, and create new jobs.”
Ryan responded to the president’s veto with bravado and a promise to “repeal and replace” Obamcare once a Republican held the office of the presidency. “It’s no surprise that someone named Obama vetoed a bill named, Obamacare,” Ryan quipped. “And we will hold a vote to override this veto, taking this process all the way to the end under the Constitution.”
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The speaker promised that the idea that “Obamacare is the law of the land for good is a myth.” Foreshadowing some of language President Donald Trump is now using to describe Obamacare, Ryan said: “this law will collapse under its own weight, or it will be repealed.”
“We have shown now that there is a clear path to repealing Obamacare without 60 votes in the Senate. So, next year, if we are sending this bill to a Republican president, it will get signed into law. Obamacare will be gone,” Ryan promised.
Trump took office Jan. 20, 2017, with a Republican held Congress. The president’s first agenda was to “repeal and replace” Obamacare, and Ryan took the reins in Congress, ultimately spearheading the repeal effort.
Trump and Republican leadership were forced to pull their first-attempt to repeal Obamacare-the American Health Care Act-Friday after House conservatives and Democrats came out in staunch opposition. Ryan was unable to keep the promise he made in 2016, as, for now, Obamacare continues to remain the “law of the land.”
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