priorities : 1 -RRB- One of the worst things about the Democrats ' plan is the method of financing : an increase in tax on high-income earners . At first that tax bites only a very small number , but the new taxes will surely be applied to larger and larger portions of the American population over time . Republicans champion lower taxes and faster economic growth . We need to start thinking now about how to get rid of these new taxes on work , saving and investment -- if necessary by finding other sources of revenue , including carbon taxes . 2 -RRB- We should quit defending employment-based health care . The leading Republican spokesman in the House on these issues , Rep. Paul Ryan , repeatedly complained during floor debate that the Obama plan would `` dump '' people out of employer-provided care into the exchanges . He said that as if it were a bad thing . Yet free-market economists from Milton Friedman onward have identified employer-provided care as the original sin of American health care . Employers choose different policies for employees than those employees would choose for themselves . The cost is concealed .
Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- What the hell do we Republicans do now ? In the very short run , our course is obvious enough : There will be more votes on health care in the Senate , and we will vote nay again . But this is anti-climax territory . The decisive vote occurred Sunday night . The `` what next ? '' question pertains to the days further ahead , after President Obama signs the merged House-Senate legislation and `` Obamacare '' becomes the law of the land . Some Republicans talk of repealing the whole bill . That 's not very realistic . Even supposing that Republicans miraculously capture both houses of Congress in November , repeal will require a presidential signature . More relevantly : Do Republicans write a one-sentence bill declaring that the whole thing is repealed ? Will they vote to reopen the `` doughnut '' hole for prescription drugs for seniors ? To allow health insurers to deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions ? To kick millions of people off Medicaid ? It 's unimaginable , impossible . But there are things that can be done , and here are some early