Four Reasons Why Trump’s Promise to Convene Special Session of Congress to Repeal Obamacare Is Idiotic

‘When We Win on November 8 and Elect a Republican Congress, We Will Be Able to Immediately Repeal and Replace Obamacare’

Once again Donald Trump reveals just how little he understands of the most basic workings of the federal government – even those basics most grade school students would know.

“When we win on November 8 and elect a Republican Congress, we will be able to immediately repeal and replace Obamacare. We have to do it,” Trump Tuesday afternoon told an audience in Pennsylvania.

“I will ask Congress to convene a special session so we can repeal and replace,” Trump continued, to cheers. “And it will be such an honor for me, for you and for everybody in this country because Obamacare has to be replaced. And we will do it, and we will do it very, very quickly. It is a catastrophe.”

Chances are you already know what’s wrong with Trump’s claims.

First, Donald Trump won’t win on November 8, but playing his game, let’s assume he does.

On November 8, or on November 9, Donald Trump still won’t be president, and he will have zero official power to sign legislation into law. The very earliest he could do it, in theory, is January 20, after he is sworn in to office.

Second, Congress will already be in session on January 20 (and reconvenes after Election Day), so there literally would be zero need to call a special session. Trump, or at least his advisors, should know that. So should the people in his audience who applauded and cheered.

Third, chances are still strong the Senate will shift to Democratic control, providing Democrats get out and vote. So legislation to repeal and replace Obamacare will never get to Trump’s desk in the Oval Office.

Fourth, dismantling such a major program like Obamacare takes more than an act of Congress and a presidential signature. It took years for Obamacare to fully go into effect. You can’t just pass a law and say, “It’s gone, no more Obamacare!” 

Insurance companies, hospitals, doctors’ offices, and a great many more entities are affected, and all will need time to adjust and change – not to mention the tens of millions of people who have purchased health care from the Obamacare exchanges.

A good businessman would know that immediately, so, so much for Trump’s expertise there, too.

In short, repealing and replacing Obamacare is an idiotic idea, and even if Trump becomes president, it will take a lot more than that to make it happen.