A GOP plan to repair Obamacare, not repeal it

There’s no doubt the vast majority of Republicans in Congress would repeal Obamacare if they could. Most GOP “alternative” bills begin with a clause to repeal the Affordable Care Act before proceeding to outline new policies to put in its place. Of course, GOP lawmakers don’t have any hope of actually repealing the law as long as Barack Obama, and his veto pen, are in the White House.

Now some Republicans are looking at what might be done to undo as much as possible of the Democrats’ national health care scheme without actually repealing it. If Obamacare’s problems continue to mount — and Republicans believe they will — could the GOP create any political momentum behind proposals to limit the harm?