The Obamacare replacement plan released by Republicans builds on the original law's "flawed progressive premises," according to the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation.
"Many Americans seeking health insurance on the individual market will notice no significant difference between the Affordable Care Act (i.e., Obamacare) and the American Health Care Act," said Michael Needham, CEO of the Heritage Foundation's political arm, Heritage Action, according to the Washington Examiner. "That is bad politics and, more importantly, bad policy."
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., touted his party's healthcare plan upon its release Monday, telling The New York Times it "will rescue people from the mistakes of the past."
Needham called on the GOP to not "accept the flawed premises of Obamacare," and instead "fully repeal the failed law and begin a genuine effort to deliver on long-standing campaign promises that create a free-market healthcare system."
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., appeared to agree with the Heritage Foundation, calling the Republican plan "Obamacare Lite," and telling Fox News "so much of their bill is a bailout for the insurance companies."
President Donald Trump, however, threw his support behind the bill, according to Reuters, and has offered to negotiate with House Republicans.
"I like the president's statements that it's up for negotiation, and I think those have begun. . . . He wants Obamacare repealed like all conservatives do, but he realizes that conservatives have a lot of objections," Paul added.
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