GOP, Democrats take credit for surge in Obamacare sign-ups

Both proponents and opponents of Obamacare are taking credit for the surge in sign-ups on healthcare.gov in the most recent open enrollment period.

The Trump administration claimed credit for the efficiency and smart decision-making that led to more than 8.8 million sign-ups and counting, while pro-Obamacare groups credited the results with Obamacare's staying power and urged Republicans to abandon efforts to undo the law.

"The Affordable Care Act is working, and people’s lives are improving because of it," said Brad Woodhouse, director of the pro-Obamacare group Protect Our Care. "Despite widespread sabotage by the Trump administration ... these numbers prove that people want and need the affordable, quality health coverage the ACA provides, they rely on it for health and financial peace of mind and any further attempts at sabotage will be met with severe resistance. It’s time for the GOP to abandon efforts to take away people’s healthcare.”

Lori Lodes, who ran Obamacare outreach under the former administration and now works for a group called Get America Covered that helps people enroll, said that the demand "speaks volumes — proving, yet again, the staying power of the marketplaces."

"It is time for Republicans to stop their campaign to sabotage our nation’s health care system, and to work to make high quality, affordable health insurance available to all Americans," said Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey, the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, the top Democrat on the Finance Committee, brought attention to the numbers on social media.