Republican Senator Says GOP Won't Repeal ObamaCare

October 20th, 2010 9:10 AM

There is a lot of media chatter about whether or not a strengthened Republican Party would move to repeal ObamaCare pending the results of the upcoming elections in November.

On Tuesday, the Davis Intelligence Group reported that Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) "recently told a group of high-dollar GOP donors that Senate Republicans would not move to fully repeal President Obama’s health care law next year, according to multiple sources who attended the event."

The snippet of the subscription only piece also stated (h/t Mark Levin):

The junior senator from Tennessee told the gathering of donors not to worry about the incoming class of “crazier Republicans” because the majority of Senate Republicans, especially minority leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), had no intention of repealing the president’s health care bill. They instead planned to fix only the “bad parts” of the law, Corker reportedly told the group.

For the record, DIG's website claims it:

[S}upplies real-time political intelligence about how potential legislation and regulation may affect its clients' investment portfolios. From developing custom proprietary research, to publishing regular political intelligence estimates, to providing access to an advisory network of sophisticated policy experts and informants, DIG helps investment professionals understand and mitigate emerging political and governmental risks to their portfolios. [...]

With Washington increasingly becoming the new Wall Street, investment professionals can no longer afford to ignore the risks to their portfolios posed by political and governmental action.

Two weeks ago, Chattanooga's ABC-TV affiliate reported:

Senator Corker said it's just not realistic for Republicans to talk about repealing health care reform because even if the G.O.P. picks up seats in the House and Senate next month there are not enough votes to override a presidential veto. It's a virtual certainty that President Barack Obama would veto any legislation that calls for the repeal of the health care reform law.

Where will this debate head after November 2?

Stay tuned.

*****Update: Corker has denied DIG's claim:

""I didn't say any of those things about our candidates," Corker said. [...]

"I believe this health care bill is incredibly damaging to our country. And I believe many Democrats, especially those in my class who are up for election again in 2012, will work with us to repeal the bad parts of this bill.

"But one thing people have got to understand is if we win in the House and get 49 seats in the Senate, or even if we get 51, the public has got to understand that we still don't have the presidency. We still need 67 votes in the Senate to repeal."

Corker also objected to DIG's report about his characterization of Sen. Mitch McConnell's plans to revisit ObamaCare. "Mitch has never said anything that wasn't 'repeal and replace,'" Corker said. "Every time he talks about this bill, he talks about repealing it and replacing it."

Here's what McConnell said on September 23:

“Americans are speaking out and we are listening. The proposals put forward today by House Republicans reflect what Americans are saying. They want to us to focus on jobs first, fight wasteful Washington spending, repeal and replace the health spending bill and shrink an exploding deficit. Americans want a smaller, less costly and more accountable government.