Party leaders stake out positions for the health law's future

If the measure survives the Supreme Court review, GOP leaders say they will seek quick repeal -- but not until after the fall elections. Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., says the overhaul is constitutionally "ironclad."

The Associated Press: GOP On Health Care: No Quick Replacement
Congressional Republicans intend to seek quick repeal of any parts of the health care law that survive a widely anticipated Supreme Court ruling, but don't plan to push replacement measures until after the fall elections or perhaps 2013. Instead, GOP lawmakers cite recent announcements that some insurance companies will retain a few of the law's higher-profile provisions as evidence that quick legislative action is not essential. Those are steps that officials say Republicans quietly urged in private conversations with the industry (Espo, 6/18).

National Journal: Both Parties Lack A Clear Path Forward On Health Care
Even with no shortage of debate over the merits and flaws of President Obama's health care reform law, two influential lawmakers on both sides of the aisle made it clear on Sunday that neither party has a plan if the law is thrown out. Republican Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming and Democratic Rep. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland faced off on CNN's State of the Union on Sunday, offering party-line arguments in opposition to or defense of the law, which currently awaits a Supreme Court decision on its constitutionality. ... but when asked what plan B was, if the Supreme Court throws out the law, neither offered a clear path forward (Jaffe, 6/17).

Roll Call: Barrasso: GOP Will Target Health Care Law In Wake Of Court Ruling
If the Supreme Court strikes down part of the health care law, Congressional Republicans will try to repeal the rest of the statute and to pass a more limited alternative, Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said today. ... Van Hollen repeatedly asserted that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was the Democrats' plan and that Republicans have done nothing but promise to repeal any remaining provisions and leave nothing in its place if the law is invalidated (Becker, 6/17).

National Journal: Pelosi: Health Care Law Constitutionally 'Ironclad'
The Supreme Court has yet to decide whether the 2010 health care law is constitutional, but House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi says the law is "ironclad." In an appearance on CBS' This Morning on Friday, Pelosi said "I think we're ironclad on the Constitutionality of the bill" and reiterated her prediction of a 6-3 favorable decision. Still, she says Democrats are girding themselves for a negative ruling. "We'll be prepared for any eventuality," she said (Miller, 6/15).

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This article was reprinted from kaiserhealthnews.org with permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent news service, is a program of the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonpartisan health care policy research organization unaffiliated with Kaiser Permanente.