Vuillemont-Smith: The Time for Repeal is Now

By Ronda Vuillemont-Smith

Tulsa 912 Project President

It’s no secret, Obamacare has been a disaster for Americans. Since the law’s passage in 2010, costs have gone up and access to care has continuously declined. Our experience here in the Sooner State is living proof of that: after years of double-digit premium increases there is only one insurer that still finds it economically viable to participate on the Oklahoma Obamacare exchange.

The failure of government mandated health care is one of the main reasons I became involved in the conservative movement. Since 2010, the Tulsa 9.12 Project has worked to achieve the full unconditional repeal of Obamacare and to send principled elected officials to Washington who will carry out this mission. We have waited and worked hard for seven long years. We must not retreat or accept less that what we were promised, the full repeal of Obamacare. Now is our time to act.

For the first time since the law was passed there is a President in the White House who has clearly stated that he is willing and eager to sign into law a full repeal of Obamacare. Congressional Leadership unfortunately, would rather tinker around the edges rather than rip the law up, root and branch. Now, more than ever, principled Conservatives are needed in Washington who will make a stand for full repeal.

The House Freedom Caucus is a membership group in the US House of Representatives. The Caucus, made up of conservative and libertarian members, is the living embodiment of the conservative movement in the House of Representatives. While most Republicans will go along with whatever Paul Ryan and the rest of the establishment Republicans want, the Freedom Caucus takes its Constitutional authority, oath of office and campaign promises more seriously.

Freedom Caucus members have been on the front lines of opposing Obamacare since the day it was proposed. They were instrumental in turning back Republican support of the first draft of the legislation. And in the face of the threats from Congressional leadership, the Freedom Caucus boldly exercised its authority to stand firm and say ‘no’ to bad policy.

That bad policy was Speaker Ryan’s flawed effort to repair rather than repeal Obamacare. This is not what the American people were promised on the campaign trail. After years of meaningless (show) votes supporting the repeal of socialized medicine, the practice should have paid off; Republicans should have been ready for prime time. And yet they weren’t.

What we received instead wasn’t a ‘repeal’ bill but a ‘repair’ bill that kept large parts of Obamacare intact. What we received was a huge broken promise. A promise the Freedom Caucus held dear and stood by. A promise for a ‘full repeal’ kept by the Freedom Caucus that compelled Speaker Ryan to withdraw his flawed and hastily rushed bill.

I have not mentioned, although most of you know, that Congressman Bridenstine is our own and only Oklahoma member of the Freedom Caucus. He has stood with the men and women of the Freedom Caucus to promote conservative values in Washington despite establishment attacks on Freedom Caucus efforts. We have seen across the country organized efforts by the left to infiltrate and disrupt town halls. Call Bridenstine’s office or send them a note and tell him these groups do not represent your values. Continue to encourage him. Continue to pray for him. And encourage him, and his Freedom Caucus colleagues, to remember their promise to the American people and stand strong on a full repeal of Obamacare.

 


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