OBAMACARE/PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “A Texas judge’s stunning declaration that Obamacare is unconstitutional not only kneecaps the health care law, it would also cripple President Donald Trump’s entire health care agenda. Trump wants lower drug prices, drastic action on the opioid crisis and protection for people with pre-existing conditions. Those are the parts of the law many Republicans do want to keep, but with the entire law invalidated — pending appeal — Trump and Republicans are trying to figure out how to live with a judicial ruling they kind of wanted, but didn’t want in such a big way. The blunt force of the Texas ruling, without consideration for the dozens of popular provisions sprinkled throughout the law, shows just how intertwined the Affordable Care Act has become as part of the American health care system. And nobody on the Republican side has a clear plan on what to do now.”
–Sarah Karlin-Smith, Rachel Roubein and Brianna Ehley, “Why Trump still needs Obamacare,” Politico, December 17, 2018 7:54 pm