President Obama(Photo: MANDEL NGAN, AFP/Getty Images)
President Obama denounced "irresponsible" Republican critics of his health care law Thursday, saying efforts to "blackmail" him into changing the plan could trigger a government shutdown and a U.S. credit default.
"Now they're threatening steps that actually would badly hurt our entire economy," Obama said during a health care speech in Largo, Md.
The speech came on the same day the administration announced a change in the online rules for small businesses: Some small-business owners wishing to enroll in new health care exchanges opening Oct. 1 will not be able to do so online at first. Instead, they will have to mail or fax information in order to join exchanges, at least until Nov. 1.
The announcement drew jeers from Republicans who say Obama should delay the entire health care plan and noted his speech on the same day.
"Did anyone tell the president that his administration is delaying another piece of Obamacare before he tried swindling the American people again?" said Republican Party Chairman Reince Priebus.
Some members of the Republican-run House have said they will not approve a new spending plan — or an increase in the debt ceiling — unless the health care law is defunded.
Democrats who run the Senate said they will never allow such a tactic, and Obama said the same Thursday.
"That's not going to happen as long as I'm president," Obama told supporters gathered at Prince George's Community College. "The Affordable Care Act is here to stay."
Obama spoke just five days before a pivotal date: Tuesday, Oct. 1, sees the opening of new health care exchanges that are key to financing the plan and fulfilling its goal of insuring nearly all Americans.
In his speech, Obama likened the new Health Insurance Marketplaces to large group plans that will include companies competing for business, lowering prices while maintaining quality.
Tuesday also marks the first day of the next fiscal year. If the White House and congressional Republicans are unable to agree on a new spending plan, parts of the government will shut down. Some GOP members said they will not support any spending plan unless it makes changes to what they call Obamacare.
Republican critics also say government subsidies and regulations on insurance companies will force higher premiums for many Americans, and those costs will rise even more if not enough people sign up for the exchanges.
Citing polls that show public opposition to the law, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Obama is trying to sell his plan to "a skeptical public. It must be frustrating for him that folks seem to be tuning out all the happy talk." Saying many Americans are confused by the changes, McConnell called the law "a mess" and "it needs to go."
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Some Republicans also say they will not back an increase in the $16.7 trillion debt ceiling unless the health care law is changed. On Thursday, House GOP leaders discussed an option to raise the debt ceiling only if the health care plan is delayed for a year.
Obama said the debt ceiling gives the government authority to borrow money to pay its bills; otherwise, the government will default. The Treasury Department reports that it will be unable to repay debt starting Oct. 17.
Congress is obligated to increase the debt ceiling without strings because the nation's "full faith and credit" is at stake, and "you don't mess with that," Obama said. He again vowed he would not negotiate on the issue.
Obama said some Republicans are trying "to blackmail a President into giving them some concessions on issues that have nothing to do with a budget."
Some Republicans are going so far as to say the act is "dangerous" and will kill people, Obama said, and he noted that one Republican called it as "destructive to personal and individual liberty as the Fugitive Slave Act."
Shortly after Obama spoke, the administration announced that applicants for a small business health care exchange will not be able to enroll online for at least a month.
Republicans pounced on news, saying it shows the need for a delay of the entire program.
"ObamaCare's been delayed for big businesses, for some state exchanges and now for small businesses," said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah. "But where's the American people's ObamaCare delay?"
In defending his health care plan in general, Obama said there has been "a lot of misinformation" that has generated "a lot of confusion." He said the law fixes a "broken health care system," and no longer allows insurance companies to discriminate against people with pre-existing conditions or illnesses.
Obama cited a recent report from the Department of Health and Human Services that said the average American will have 53 different plans to choose from and 95% of uninsured Americans will see their premiums cost much less than expected.
Like any new major program, "there are going to be some glitches as this thing unfolds," Obama said, but those can be fixed along the way.
Obama said many Republicans are working to try and make the plan fail, but are worried that it will succeed and make them look bad politically.
Congress passed the law and the Supreme Court upheld it, he said, and he will not surrender it.
"We are going to see it through," Obama said. "The Affordable Care Act is here."
