Kasich is obvious choice to lead health-care effort

It has long been an article of faith for Republicans – especially when Democrats have controlled Congress – that states are the laboratories of democracy.

The GOP argument goes something like this: Governors and state legislatures are in the best position to establish policies to ensure the health, safety and welfare of their residents.

Protecting the homeland is the federal government’s chief responsibility, Republicans say. On most other matters, they argue, Congress and the White House should provide financial and other support to the states and refrain from issuing edicts from Washington.

Yet, on the singularly important issue of health care, Republican President Donald J. Trump and the GOP leadership in Congress have largely ignored what governors of both parties have been saying since the repeal and replacement of Obamacare were made the top priority.

But despite the president’s demand for quick action, the legislative initiative hit a brick wall in the Senate.

The House passed a bill – with only Republican votes – to replace the Affordable Care Act. However, the reality that millions of Americans would lose health-care coverage they now receive rendered the measure a non-starter in the Senate.

But a Senate version of Trumpcare also was defeated because millions of Americans would be negatively impacted.

Then last week, Trump and the GOP leadership suffered another major setback in the Senate when a barebones bill rolling back a few pieces of President Barack Obama’s statute was rejected 51-49. Three Republicans, including Sen. John McCain of Arizona, joined Democrats in voting against the measure.

President’s demand

And while the president demanded that Congress not go on to other business before passing a health-care bill he could sign, there was one prominent Republican governor who said he was “glad” the push to scale back the 2010 Obamacare law was rejected.

“To a degree, I’m glad they didn’t fulfill this pledge right now,” said Ohio Gov. John R. Kasich, who locked horns with Trump last year on the GOP presidential campaign trail. “But they need to work on it. And this is where they should call the Democrats in. And they should demand Democratic participation.”

Kasich has long insisted there are some good things about Obamacare that should be preserved, and some bad things that should be changed.

But the governor, who was one of Trump’s harshest critics last year, is unwavering in his belief that any new health-care plan must be the result of Republicans and Democrats working together.

Kasich has received national attention for his willingness to speak his mind and take on members of his own party.

Thus, we believe the governor of Ohio is ideally suited to lead a national, bipartisan effort to develop a health-care plan that provides comprehensive, affordable coverage for all Americans, as President Trump pledged in an interview earlier this year with the Washington Post.

While we’re aware the relationship between Trump and Kasich is strained at best, the White House should consider the advantages of turning to an individual who not only is respected by other governors, but knows the federal budget as well as any veteran member of Congress.

While serving in the House of Representatives, Kasich was chairman of the Budget Committee. He worked closely with the administration of then Democratic President Bill Clinton to develop a balanced federal budget, the first in decades.

“We can’t be done with it yet,” the governor said of health care. “And we can’t be done going after the underlying rising costs of health care, the problem of entitlements which is going to kill our economy in this country.”

While his decision to expand Medicaid under Obamacare so more Ohioans can be covered angered Republicans in the General Assembly, it turns out the expansion is a godsend for thousands who are caught up in the opiate epidemic.

It’s time for a new approach to health care coverage, and we believe Kasich is well positioned to lead the bipartisan effort. Other governors, members of Congress and White House officials should be a part of task force .