President Obama Defends Obamacare Amidst GOP Repeal Plans

WASHINGTON, DC — President Obama defended his administration's signature legislative achievement Thursday, arguing that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, made the country stronger. He issued his remarks on the seventh anniversary of his signing the law and ahead of a vote on a Republican bill in the House of Representatives that would drastically alter the Obamacare as we know it.

"America is stronger because of the Affordable Care Act," the former president said. "There will always be work to do to reduce costs, stabilize markets, improve quality, and help the millions of Americans who remain uninsured in states that have so far refused to expand Medicaid."

He also touted the law's accomplishments: "Thanks to this law, more than twenty million Americans have gained the security and peace of mind of health insurance. Thanks to this law, more than ninety percent of Americans are insured – the highest rate in our history. Thanks to this law, the days when women could be charged more than men and Americans with pre-existing conditions could be denied coverage altogether are relics of the past."

But it wasn't just a defense of the effects of the law. He also tells a narrative of how Obamacare became law, arguing that it is the result of millions of Americans mobilizing, organizing and fighting for change.

"We finally declared that in America, health care is not a privilege for a few, but a right for everybody," he said.

The inspiring retelling of history glosses over much of the bitter congressional fighting, interest group accommodations and legislative compromises that were required to make the Affordable Care Act law. But it seems meant to draw a contrast between Obamacare's long, public debates and the Republicans' rush to pass their American Health Care Act through the House.

Obama also took the opportunity to directly call on his successor and his party to work in a bipartisan way to improve the American health care system.

"If Republicans are serious about lowering costs while expanding coverage to those who need it, and if they’re prepared to work with Democrats and objective evaluators in finding solutions that accomplish those goals – that’s something we all should welcome," he said.

"But we should start from the baseline that any changes will make our health care system better, not worse for hardworking Americans," Obama continued. "That should always be our priority."

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