The House plans to start debate this afternoon on whether to repeal last year's healthcare reforms, dubbed Obamacare by critics. Many have called the GOP’s efforts symbolic at best since it’s unlikely the Democrat-heavy Senate would pass such a bill, and even more unlikely President Obama would sign it. A new AP-GfK poll suggests public support for repeal is declining. Of those surveyed, 26 percent said they wanted to repeal the healthcare bill completely, compared to 32 percent last October.
U.S. News blogger Scott Galupo says that polling shouldn’t deter Republicans. He writes, “Democrats thought the bill was the right thing for the country… And now, even with a minority of the country favoring full repeal, House Republicans should move ahead with their plans, and for much the same reason: They believe it’s the right thing to do.”
But is pursuing repeal the best top priority for Republicans? U.S. News blogger Peter Roff says the GOP shouldn’t forget about another topic on the forefront of Americans’ minds—immigration. “To some, especially activists on the right, the call for comprehensive immigration reform is perceived as an argument for amnesty,” Roff writes. “But ‘What part of illegal don’t you understand’ is not a rational basis for formulating public policy.” Particularly looking ahead to 2012, Roff suggests, the GOP can’t afford to ignore the Hispanic vote. “The political consequences of failing to address the immigration issue could, for the GOP, be devastating,” he writes.
What do you think? Should the GOP’s top priority be healthcare repeal, immigration reform, or something else? Take the poll and post your thoughts below.
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