Democrats could have the upper hand going into ObamaCare negotiations this year

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Chuck Schumer.
(Image credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

With a fresh check mark in the "tax reform" box, Republicans return to Capitol Hill in 2018 divided over one of the most significant legislative predicaments leading into the midterm elections: What to do with ObamaCare. Adding to troubles is the fact that the division in the GOP is countered by the unification of Democrats on the issue, giving the latter party "a strong hand to play," Politico writes.

When ObamaCare was first on the chopping block in 2017, Republicans repeatedly failed to reach a consensus on a repeal. While the individual mandate was eventually cut in the tax bill, "the reality is the GOP is so divided on ObamaCare, they don't have the votes to achieve either objective — repeal or stabilization," Politico adds. "That means former President Barack Obama's signature legislative accomplishment could keep limping along, crippled by the repeal of the individual mandate in the tax law but lifted by the surprisingly strong enrollment for the coming year."

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.