Lanhee Chen: A Choice

Liberals and many voices in elite media have touted the recent Congressional Budget Office analysis of the House Republican bill to repeal and replace Obamacare as a reason to oppose it. But let’s be clear: The CBO estimates show that the legislation is fundamentally conservative. And while it’s not perfect, the American Health Care Act includes many important changes that will bring health spending down, cut taxes and lower costs for consumers. For starters, the bill is estimated to reduce deficits and the debt by $337 billion over the next 10 years. Furthermore, the legislation includes almost $600 billion in tax cuts and is expected to lower premiums while contributing to a more stable marketplace for health insurance. What we have before us is a choice: Do we continue to walk down Obamacare’s path to more deficits, less choice and higher health costs? Or do we work to pass an alternative that takes us in the other direction? The American Health Care Act is a good start and we should work together to improve it and to get the job done.