Politics & Government

What Should Be Done With Obamacare?

As the House of Representatives schedules a vote on repeal, Patch readers enter a thoughtful debate. Voice your opinion in the latest Patch poll.

 

Patch coverage of the Unites States Supreme Court’s ruling upholding the Affordable Care Act drew more than 175 comments spawning a debate about the issue among readers.

and Patch wants to know its readers’ opinion. Please take the latest unscientific Patch Poll at the bottom of this story and keep the debate going.

Find out what's happening in Deerfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Within hours after the Court’s decision Thursday, lauded the opinion while and wanted changes. Dold will vote to repeal July 9.

Find out what's happening in Deerfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“ bad policy,” Dold said referring to his vote in January of last year. “Unlike the current law, which was the product of a very flawed process and unprecedented partisanship, the American people deserve an opportunity to advance sensible solutions that enjoy bipartisan support.”

That Senate has not acted on the initial repeal vote measure by the House.

Schakowsky made it clear she will vote against repeal and sees the move by House Republican leadership as unnecessary.

“Are the Republicans suggesting that the 3.1 million young adults be thrown off their parents policies,” Schakowsky said? “Or the 17 million children with pre-existing conditions now become ineligible for insurance?”

Dold favors letting children remain on their parents policies until they are 26 and requiring coverage despite pre-existing conditions. Deerfield’s Brad Schneider, Dold’s Democratic opponent in the Nov. 6 general election, wants to let the law become fully operative before making changes.

“When we first passed Medicare it took (some) time to know what parts worked and what parts did not,” Schneider said. “We have to see what works and change what doesn’t.” Schakowsky agrees with Schneider’s analysis.

Patch readers are no less passionate about the issue. John Utah sees merit in the positions of Kirk and Dold. He would go further. “Repeal and replace with free market solutions, not big government,” Utah writes.

Another reader, Irving Drobny, likes Schneider’s approach. “How do you know it will be a disaster,” Drobny writes. “Did you look into your crystal ball for an answer? Why don't you see if it works first before you write it off?”

Marilyn Thompson likes Dold’s bipartisan approach and his support of many of the Affordable Care Act’s provisions but she is disappointed with his decision to vote for repeal.

“He (Dold) supports a lot of it and would work on fixing the parts that he doesn't like. This sort of reasoned approach is what we need in Washington,” Thompson writes. “Repealing the law will eliminate all the good things that are contained therein—and it would be virtually impossible to get them all back.”

The poll will remain open through 5 p.m. Thursday and Patch will publish the results Friday morning.


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