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 Republicans have put their call to repeal Obamacare at the center
of their campaigns for November's congressional elections, but have
yet to coalesce around an alternative to the health law. Obama and
his Democratic allies in Congress have sought to use the lack of a
Republican plan as ammunition in the campaign.
Jindal said his proposal could be a model for the Republican
alternative.
"If we want to earn the right to be in the majority, we have to have
specific issues," Jindal said at a breakfast sponsored by the
Christian Science Monitor. "The president likes to say there's no
alternative, but there is an alternative. He may not like that
alternative, but there is an alternative."
The proposal, dubbed "The Freedom and Empowerment Plan," relies on
first repealing Obamacare. The plan would give states "global
grants," or fixed sums of money from the federal government, for the
Medicaid health program for the poor. States would be encouraged to
experiment with the program.
Jindal's plan would allow people to buy insurance across state
lines. Currently, states have the authority to regulate insurance
sold within their borders.
The Louisiana governor would also let people take a standard tax
deduction for the cost of their health care coverage, regardless of
whether they receive coverage from their employers or purchase it on
their own.
The 26-page plan came a day after Obama touted the signup of more
than 7 million people for the health program before the March 31
enrollment deadline.
Obamacare remains controversial with the public, however, creating
angst for Democratic candidates in tight races in the congressional
elections.
Conservative groups are spending millions of dollars on
advertisements attacking the program. Republicans are hoping to
seize control of the Senate and increase their numbers in the House
in November.
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Jindal said he would be releasing similar policy plans about energy
and education.
The second-term governor and former congressman trails other
potential contenders in preliminary presidential polls. Still, he
has formed a political action committee and has not been shy about
considering a run or appearing in New Hampshire, an influential
state in primary elections.
On Wednesday he said it was "no secret" he was considering a run.
The list of other Republican White House hopefuls for 2016 is long.
Last weekend in Las Vegas, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, New
Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Ohio Governor John Kasich, and
former Florida Governor Jeb Bush courted mega-donor and casino
magnate Sheldon Adelson.
Other Republicans considering a White House bid include Kentucky
Senator Rand Paul, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, Florida Senator Marco
Rubio and Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan.
(Editing by Caren Bohan and Andrew Hay)
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