How to repeal ObamaCare: Repeal ObamaCare

But sure, if we need a delay to draft new legislation for a smoother transition away from Obamacare, then add a delay—but make it a really short one. Make it the equivalent of: “The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, the name of which is a cruel joke, is repealed in its entirety effective May 1, 2017.” Aside from the droll irony of killing socialized medicine on May Day, this would require that any replacement must be part of the new president’s first 100 days.

Consider the effect such a short deadline would have, and how it would put congressional Republicans in a position of power. If Obamacare stays in place while everyone haggles for years over a replacement, then the default outcome is that Obamacare stays—and Washington DC, sure does love the default outcome. Congressional Democrats, squishy moderate Republicans, industry lobbyists, and a hostile media would have every incentive to stall and disrupt the Republican replacement, knowing that if it gets bogged down, Obamacare is likely to stay.

But pass the repeal first, on a tight timeline, and suddenly the default is that Obamacare all goes away. Anyone who wants to keep some part of the existing system—which is to say, those same constituencies: congressional Democrats, industry lobbyists, the media—they have to make the case for keeping their pet parts of the system, and congressional Republicans get to decide which of those parts they can fit in to their preferred reform.