Manchin continues push for one-year delay to Obamacare
(CNN) - West Virginia Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin called Sunday for a delay to the individual mandate portion of the Affordable Care Act, warning that the law could fall apart and fail to deliver the care promised.
"(Obamacare) falls of its own weight if basically the cost becomes more than we can absorb," Manchin said on CNN's "State of the Union.”
Manchin, along with Sen. Mark Kirk, a Republican from Illinois, has endorsed legislation delaying until 2015 the requirement that virtually all Americans have health insurance or face a penalty fee.
Independent of the technical glitches that plagued the federal marketplace's initial launch on HealthCare.gov, Manchin said the year-long delay is necessary to improve the product as a whole.
"This whole 2014 will be a transitional year to find out where our glitches are, and our little nuances that we have to work for, and find out if the market can produce the products that we need to keep us healthy."
Manchin continued: "This transitional year gives you a chance to adjust the products to the market and to see if the market will absorb and buy the product."
The conservative Democrat said it's imperative that the United States improve on health care. And while President Barack Obama's law isn't the right fix, he said, it's progress nonetheless.
"Is this the right thing? Probably not. Is it a step in moving it? Yes, we're moving the ball forward," he said.
"I'm not worried about the glitches, computer glitches. We'll fix that sooner or later. I'm worried about having a product that the market will buy. And we're not letting people shop."
Watch State of the Union with Candy Crowley Sundays at 9am ET. For the latest from State of the Union click here.
From CNN Politics
- Grenell may run for California governor if recall effort advances February 27, 2021 11:22 pm
- Fact check: CPAC speakers make false claims about the election, the Capitol attack and The Muppets February 27, 2021 11:16 pm
- Sasse blasts party for 'weird worship of one dude' after Nebraska GOP rebukes him for impeachment vote February 27, 2021 10:45 pm
- Fact check: Biden's pick for HHS secretary says he never sued nuns as California attorney general February 27, 2021 09:10 pm
- Trump makes fundraising moves ahead of CPAC speech February 27, 2021 08:57 pm
- Frustration is growing over the obstacles Biden's nominees of color are facing February 27, 2021 08:38 pm
Then why did I sign up ?
this is a lot cheeper then looking for WMD's in Iraq
If there was a delay, and all the people that signed up for coverage WERE covered, what's the problem????just more time to shop, but you can't trust the GOP who is still trying to undermine and sabotage a good law!!!!!
Amazing that government has to screw up so badly that we need to give them another year and millions more to waste on a program no one wants and from the start was a fraud on the American people
A good law? Hahahahaha! Twenty years from now this thing will be a case study in how to end a President's ability to govern. All that work by the GOP to kill t and all they had to do the whole time was push it out of the nest. The ACA represents everything that's wrong with our political process today.
Gosh it would be nice if Republicans would stop obstructing progress.
Mancini was opposed to getting health care for WVians from day one. I really don't think he should decide.
They said the same thing about SOCIAl Security and who given it up not Congress they get eighteen thousand dollar a year retirement for durning very little for we the people.
Anyone see what the Manchin fix is,other than delay benefits for the uninsured? He must be trying to get the VP nod on the Cruz campaign.
Another year?? It's too late for that. Many have already lost their plans. Gary: if you call the Presidents agenda as progress, I really would hate to see what you call a failure. What good is being "covered" if the plan you're covered with is no good.
Please don't take this as a defense of the GOP. I am not a Republican.
You guys have got to get past this "Republicans won't get out of our way" line. Governing the US is hard. It requires skill and ability on the easiest of days and it's nigh impossible on the worst. If the Dems can't handle the heat, they need to step aside and let someone else govern. I'm sick of excuses. The ACA is the law, as I am so often reminded. If it is a success, Democrats get the credit, but if it craps the bed, it will be on its own terms, not because of the obstruction of a party that lacked the votes to ever stop it.
This guy should just change parties and become a Republican.
More money wasted.by the party that swears it's conservative, with your interest at heart. Yeah right.
We must vote these clowns out of office so we can get some of the work done and get the house in order for our next President, SHE will get these republicans straigten out.
Your good law is for denying pre-existing patients? Hospitals overcharging? Insurances denying?
Not producing generic medicines, for greed? Patients that can not afford medical attention to lose
Their homes? Kids are under parents coverage, losing them? What nonsense you spew venom.
Yes, ACA is a Law. Nation needed for fifty years–GOP thugs were sleeping.
I don't think that waiting an extra year is going to help or hurt. It is the law and should be complete as other parts.
Screw those Republicans. They've been trying to impede progress for far to long. Let that West Virginia hick says his piece and then kick to the sidelines where he belongs. We need to get moving here. Right Wing Nut Job slime have already delayed progress long enough. Move them out of the way, and let's push onward.
President Obama should appoint this tool as an ambassador like he did to the dinosaur Baucus.
Was in W. VA. a couple months ago. The poverty is pitiful, but met some nice people. Why does their senator not want them to have health care?
Wait for another year! Will any sickness wait as well in order to strike? We are not talking going back to the moon Joe?We are talking about survival of people.
Republicans have been calling the President a liar all the while they have spread thousands of lies about The ACA JUST TO TRY AND MAKE IT FAIL and are proud of it like they haven't done anything wrong. And have not offered ONE reasonable alternative or solution to help Americans get healthcare coverage. Yes it is ON THEM in the end regardless of what lies they tell. Just like a marriage, you don't get a divorce after the first fight.