Obamacare Will Fall on Own Sword

House Republicans have jumped on every opportunity to fully repeal and change or defund the president’s healthcare law. His signature piece of legislation, President Obama’s so-called affordable plan for healthcare is already showing signs of inevitable failure, and it continues to grow less popular with each passing day. Even the Obama Administration has admitted that the law is unworkable by choosing to delay key portions of it.

Obamacare has always been a Democrat-led and Democrat-imposed effort. No Republicans, in either chamber, have ever voted in favor of the law. When it was jammed through Congress in 2010, no Republican praised its passage. Instead, ever since that fateful day when it was signed into law and then unfortunately upheld by the Supreme Court, Republicans have continued to voice their opposition to the law and lead efforts to repeal it in full or in part.

I am proud that I voted against Obamacare, but I wish it wasn’t a legislative reality. Despite these unfortunate circumstances, I remain a dedicated, persistent critic of the law and have voted for its repeal on every single occasion and opportunity presented. This legislation is unworkable and unfair, and I certainly look forward to the day that we can replace this flawed product completely.

Currently, some Senate and House Republicans have proposed that we refuse to pass a bill to fund the government if it includes funding for Obamacare. Neither the Democrat-led Senate nor President Obama will ever agree to this proposal. It will certainly force a government shutdown. This strategy, though well-intentioned, is risky, counterproductive and unlikely to succeed. I understand that Republican senators and members are anxious to end Obamacare, and I am right there with them on principle. While I agree with the goal of defunding and eliminating Obamacare, I strongly disagree with the tactics currently proposed.

Shutting down the government will wreak havoc on the future of our nation. Not only will this political statement not change minds in the Senate or Obama Administration, but it will adversely affect millions of hardworking Americans. Taking this draconian step will result in a plunging stock market, a massive increase in unemployment, a downgrading of our nation’s credit rating and an immediate end of all government spending. While some may think this an attractive option, it should be kept in mind that this will include our soldiers not getting paid, our veterans not getting their benefits and every single civilian federal employee being laid off – just to name a few.

I’m not alone in my belief that this currently proposed tactic will ultimately hurt more than help Americans. Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn recently explained, “It’s not an achievable strategy. It’s creating the false impression that you can do something when you can’t. And it’s dishonest.” Senators Richard Burr, Roy Blunt and John Cornyn have also expressed their opposition to government shutdown tactics.

Despite the fact that Obamacare exists and by law must be implemented, we cannot overlook several victories that have changed the original version of the legislation. Since the passage of this flawed law under a Democrat-controlled Congress and president, House Republicans have voted 40 times to repeal it partially or completely. In fact, the Republican-led House has succeeded in passing seven bills, signed into law by the president, that help dismantle certain portions and in so doing save at least $62 billion in taxpayer dollars, lessening some of the harmful effects of the law. In addition, when Obama announced his intention to delay the business mandate portion of the law, House Republicans ratified the bill and set forth legislation that would extend that mandate delay to individuals as well.

I’ve always taken every opportunity to speak out against Obamacare and find ways to limit its harmful impact. However, forcing a government shutdown will negatively affect millions of hardworking Americans, and such tactics shouldn’t be tolerated or pursued. While we must continue to fight on all fronts and refuse to accept the permanent reality of Obamacare, we would do well, under current leadership in the federal government, to let the already-failing healthcare law fall on its own sword.