Editorial: Work together on health care

Lawmakers have an opportunity for a bipartisan compromise; let’s hope they don’t squander it.

Senate Republicans’ decision Tuesday to delay a vote on a plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act could be a blessing in disguise.

It would have been just as calamitous for Republicans to implement a health care plan without a single Democratic vote as it was when Democrats pushed through the Affordable Care Act eight years ago without a single Republican vote.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had wanted a vote on the Senate’s Obamacare replacement plan before the July 4 holiday. He hoped to begin debate Tuesday. But Republicans, who could only afford to lose two votes and still pass the bill, had four defectors by midday with more senators on the fence.

The postponement was a defeat for President Donald Trump who, despite boasts to the contrary, has very little to crow about in terms of legislative accomplishments.

It isn’t clear what McConnell’s next move will be. Lobbying efforts continue among Republicans, but the division is deep within the party. Moderates and conservatives are dissatisfied with the bill for different reasons.

What McConnell should do — with Trump’s backing and support — is reach across the aisle and issue a sincere invitation to Democrats to participate in crafting a fix to the Affordable Care Act, which absolutely needs fixing. This is an opportunity for Trump to do what Obama couldn’t, to put in place a bipartisan health care plan.

There are popular aspects of Obamacare — no denial of pre-existing conditions, the ability to keep children covered until age 26 and expansion of Medicaid coverage to the poor — that appeal to many Republicans. And there are aspects of Obamacare — lack of choice, significant increases in health insurance costs and costly and bureaucratic employer mandates — that Democrats know need to be fixed.

Health care represents about one-sixth of the American economy. It is too important an issue to be decided by 2018 election calculus. There is a path toward bipartisan compromise. Let’s hope someone — anyone — in Washington has the courage to lead down that path.