Dem senator: ‘Very good chance’ we save ObamaCare

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) says the odds favor Democrats in their fight to block Republican repeal of ObamaCare.

“I think we have a very good chance of keeping the [Affordable Care Act] in place,” he said on CNN’s “New Day” early Thursday. “The reason why is the basic elements.”

“Now this is what the Republicans are struggling with,” Merkley told host Chris Cuomo. “They’re at a loss with what to do.

{mosads}“They have set up this false story about a government takeover and it turns out that the actual elements one by one are quite popular with America.”

Merkley cited free preventive tests and tax credits for low- and middle-income Americans, adding that scrapping President Obama’s namesake healthcare legislation would hurt the nation.

“Taking down ObamaCare would take down healthcare for more than 20 million Americans and would decrease the integrity of insurance policies for the rest of America,” said Merkley, who endorsed 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton over President-elect Donald Trump. 

Trump on Tuesday urged Republicans to quickly repeal ObamaCare, adding a replacement model should be implemented “very shortly” afterward.

The Senate early Thursday, meanwhile, took the first step toward such a move by passing a budget resolution that is being used as a vehicle to roll back the law.

The House is expected to vote on a similar measure Friday, despite significant Republican division over when and how to replace ObamaCare.