Pataki: ObamaCare is ‘worst law’ of my lifetime

Former Gov. George Pataki (R-N.Y.) marked ObamaCare’s fifth anniversary Wednesday by declaring it the “worst law” of his lifetime.

“I can’t say ‘ever,’ but in my lifetime I don’t think there’s been as big a law that’s had as negative an impact,” Pataki, who is considering a run for the White House, said on Newsmax TV’s “MidPoint.”

“It is wrong, it should be repealed, it’s unconstitutional,” he continued. “But most important, we have got to pass an alternative and get this out of the way.”

{mosads}Pataki argued that ObamaCare’s implementation in 2010 was an unconstitutional overhaul of the U.S. healthcare system that disturbed coverage for millions of Americans, all while driving up healthcare costs nationwide.

“The tragedy is that this didn’t have to be done,” Pataki told host Ed Berliner. “It has changed healthcare for every single American.”

Pataki said he would repeal and then replace ObamaCare with a more market-based alternative. The former governor cited his reforms of New York’s state healthcare as proof that change is possible.

“There are some provisions we should renew,” Pataki said, “but we should do it in a way where we take ObamaCare, throw it on the ash heap of history, and pass a new comprehensive health law that uses market-based initiative, individual decision-making as a basis to provide quality healthcare to all Americans.”

Pataki’s remarks came as President Obama celebrated his healthcare law’s fifth anniversary while taunting Republicans as lacking a better alternative.

“We have been promised a lot of things these past five years that didn’t turn out to be the case,” Obama joked of the healthcare law bearing his name. “Death panels. Doom. A serious alternative from Republicans in Congress.”

ObamaCare’s controversial size, scope and cost will likely serve as ammunition for GOP White House hopefuls in 2016. Pataki is one of 20 Republicans who have expressed interest in an Oval Office bid during that election.

The former governor told The Boston Globe in January he was “seriously considering” running for president.

Pataki served three terms leading the Empire State from 1995 through 2006. He previously entertained White House bids in 2008 and 2012.