Senate GOP pushes for CLASS repeal

Senate Republicans on Wednesday made the case for repealing the healthcare reform law’s CLASS program.

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), the sponsor of a bill to repeal CLASS, said the program was a “gimmick” used to make the healthcare law more affordable. CLASS accounted for about 40 percent of the deficit reduction attributed to the health law. The program would have provided insurance for long-term care.

“There are perhaps lots of other gimmicks that we’re going to uncover,” Thune said during a colloquy with fellow Republicans.

Even before the CLASS Act was included in the healthcare bill, experts warned that it would eventually become a drain on tax revenue. The Health and Human Services Department recently said it could not find a way to make the program solvent and would not implement it.

Thune offered a unanimous consent request Wednesday to repeal CLASS. Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.V.) objected, saying Congress should spend its time addressing the real problems presented by long-term care.

“Those who are gloating today … are not the fiscal heroes they make themselves out to be,” Rockefeller said.

The White House and many House Democrats also oppose repealing CLASS.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said “some misplaced pride in authorship” seemed to be the only explanation for opposing repeal.

“One would wonder why we wouldn’t just go ahead and repeal it, and if there is a better proposal to address the long-term care problem in America, then why don’t we sit down at the drawing board?” McCain said.

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