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No Time for Freedom Caucus to Falter

Renewed efforts to pass establishment health care bill should be opposed

If there ever was a time to stand up for free markets and against a bad health care bill the time is now. The Freedom Caucus and Rep. Harris courageously saved the party and country from a permanent watered down version of Obamacare. Voters including myself put Republicans in office to undo the damage of the Affordable Care Act, not to put a band aid on a dying system. Rather than pull out the defibrillator on a lost cause, Republicans should do what they promised – completely repeal and then replace Obamacare with something that actually helps people, instead of raising most people’s rates to give free health care to millions. Small fixes should continue to remain a non-starter for the Freedom Caucus. There is simply too much at stake for them to give in. Baltimore residents and constituents in Maryland's first district are reaching out to their local representatives' offices pleading with them not to adopt the House plan. Rep. Harris and the Freedom Caucus to hold strong one more time and insist that Congress return to the drawing board on health care. The legislative process is long and arduous so Republicans must make sure their next bill is sellable in both the House and the Senate. It is time to return to the principles that Republicans promised to promote during the campaign – free markets, competition, and less regulation on businesses. A full scale repeal and replace of Obamacare is the only way to fulfill those principles. The Freedom Caucus should stand firm like a rock and fight for people like me currently struggling under the weight of Obamacare. Real reforms can not be rushed through Congress in the middle of the night. Write a new bill, debate it publicly, and pass it honorably through the regular legislative process.

Thomas Paulson and his wife are private event planners and caterers in White Marsh, MD

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