Ryan: "wait and see mode"

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CONSTITUENT HOTLINE 1-888-909-RYAN (7926) Ryan defends health care reform efforts in Journal Times interview Racine Journal Times Mark Schaaf 7/7/2017 Photo credit: Jack Zellweger, Racine Journal Times House Speaker Paul Ryan said he is in "wait and see mode" on what the U.S. Senate does with health care reform and defended the House version passed in May.  In an interview Friday with The Journal Times, Ryan said he believes the impact of the House bill would be better in some aspects than what the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projects. In particular, the CBO has estimated premiums for low income and older residents would climb and, in the case of the Senate bill, that 22 million people would lose insurance. "We think the CBO is only looking at part of the picture, and what they're basically saying is, if you're not going to force someone to buy something they don't want to buy, they won't buy it," Ryan said. "That's all well and good, but it misses the point of our policy which is, let people buy what they want to buy and don't make people buy what they don't want to buy." Republicans have proposed the federal and state governments subsidize the cost of care for people in the individual market with catastrophic illnesses, Ryan said. He believes that will make it easier to insure people in those high-risk pools at a more affordable price. Still, Ryan acknowledged health care is a politically volatile issue and Republicans have an uphill battle selling their plan to voters. In 2010, unrest over President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act helped drive massive GOP victories across the country.  "What matters to me is that we get the policy right and we fix this problem," Ryan said. "The problem is the individual market is in the middle of a collapse. The question is, can we replace it with a system that actually works and gets people access to affordable coverage."  Like the House, Republicans in the Senate have also hit stumbling blocks trying to pass a health care bill, with an expected vote before the July 4 recess pushed back. Ryan said House Republicans are reserving judgment until they see what comes out of that chamber. Click here to read the rest of the article online. Do you want to unsubscribe and no longer receive InstantNewsUPDATES? Yes click to open in new window Janesville Office 20 South Main Street, Suite 10 Janesville, WI 53545 Phone: (608) 752-4050 Fax: (608) 752-4711 Racine Office 216 6th Street Racine, WI 53403 Phone: (262) 637-0510 Fax: (262) 637-5689 Kenosha Office 5031 7th Avenue Kenosha, WI 53140 Phone: (262) 654-1901 Fax: (262) 654-2156 Washington Office 1233 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515-4901 (202) 225-3031