Why Republicans voted NO on Obamacare. The Unpopular Mandate
Why politicians reverse their political decisions.
posted about 12 years ago
By Ezra Klein.
In 2010, when the Affordable Care Act was being debated in Congress, congressional republicans all banded together against one of the provisions of the law. The individual mandate that required each individual to purchase some form of health insurance or risk paying a tax penalty.
To some historians, this was a bit surprising since the Individual mandate had been the backbone of Republican Health reform efforts for decades. The individual mandate made its political debut in 1989 in the Heritage Foundation's "Assuring Affordable Healthcare for All Americans" In the brief, THF argues for a guaranteed universal healthcare system.
The mandate made its second appearance in the Republican led plan against Bill Clinton's health reform in 1993. This bill sponsored by Senator John Chaffe also called for coverage of all Americans."Requires each citizen or lawful permanent resident to be covered under a qualified health plan or equivalent health care program by January 1, 2005".
And then there is the Mitt Romney healthcare mandate in Mass.
So how did the republican-crafted mandate end up with republicans not just declaring it inappropriate policy, but also against the wishes of the founding fathers?
