Remember back (a few short weeks ago) when the Democrats were arguing that Obamacare was the law of the land, that it hadn’t been struck down by the Supreme Court (as if avoiding that ignominious fate by a razor-slim 5-4 vote were a selling point), and that Republicans—and the American people—just needed to get over it and accept Obamacare as settled law forevermore? Well, it now appears what they meant was that, while the American people are powerless to change (or repeal) the law that the Democrats passed, the Democratic president can do so at his whim. Apparently, the federal lawmaking authority has now moved to the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue.

At least that seems to be the Obama administration’s conception of things, not only in action but in thought, as a telling slip by an Obama administration official demonstrates.  The Washington Post’s Sarah Kliff quotes an unnamed White House official as having explained to her the following:  “Under the old law, if I had bought a plan starting June 1, 2013, then the insurance company would have to no longer offer that plan. … Now, that can go for another year.”