Over the last eight years, the one issue that has continued to divide Republicans and Democrats is the Affordable Care Act, better known as "Obamacare." The issue was a topic of discussion during a CNN town hall event with House Speaker Paul Ryan, who came face-to-face with a man who wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for President Obama and his health care law.
Ryan on Obamacare
When President Obama first announced his plan enact a complete overhaul of the American health care system, not many people knew exactly what to expect. Despite being modeled after a plan put in place in Massachusetts by former Republican Gov.
Mitt Romney, Obamacare was quickly criticized and demonized by conservatives and the right-wing media. While Obamacare has had issues since its roll-out, the new health care law has led to millions of Americans being covered that previously didn't have access to insurance prior to the law becoming offical. This issue was brought up during a town hall event on Wednesday night, where Speaker of the House Paul Ryan was the featured guest, as reported by CNN on January 12.
The first question of the night came from small business owner Jeff Jeans, who had been a self-described "life-long Republican," having worked for the Ronald Reagan and George Bush presidential campaigns in the past. Jeans was first against Obamacare, but then explained to Paul Ryan what changed his mind.
"At 49, I was given six-weeks to live with a very curable type of cancer," Jeans explained. "Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, I am standing her today alive," he continued. "I want to thank President Obama from the bottom of my heart," Jeans went on to say.
ICYMI, the Senate took its first steps to repeal the Affordable Care Act last night. Albeit a theatrical one. https://t.co/fi8W7scZe9
— NPR (@NPR) January 12, 2017
"Being both a small business person and someone with pre-existing conditions, I rely on the Affordable Care Act to be able to purchase my own insurance, " Jeans pointed out, before asking Paul Ryan why Republicans would repeal Obamacare without a replacement.
Ryan answered the question, explaining that Republicans would take a more private approach to fixing the health care system.
Health Care USA
On Thursday, the Republican-controlled Senate took the first steps in repealing Obamacare, which was praised by Donald Trump on Twitter. A showdown is expected to take place in the House of Representatives, which is also controlled by Republicans. If a full repeal is pushed through, Trump has made it clear that he will sign off and make it official.
