Tom Brenner New York Times Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., the Senates third-ranking Republican, spoke out this week about continuing to provide cost-sharing reductions (CSRs), that is, financial assistance to consumers struggling with high health insurance deductibles and other expenses.

A powerful South Dakota Republican senator merits credit for throwing his support behind a key effort to stabilize the Affordable Care Act after the failed but disruptive congressional push to repeal it.

Early this week, South Dakotas John Thune, the Senates third-ranking Republican, spoke out publicly in favor of funding a critical component of former President Barack Obamas health care law: its financial assistance to consumers struggling with high health insurance deductibles and other expenses. While Thune didnt sound overly enthusiastic, his pragmatic call to fund this consumer-friendly aid known as cost-sharing reductions, or CSRs clearly warns the Trump administration against taking action to undermine the insurance marketplace.

Its a particularly timely message one that Minnesotas three influential GOP House members should echo as Republican efforts to replace the ACA stall indefinitely. The inaction has stoked the ire of President Donald Trump, who campaigned on swiftly repealing Obamacare. There are understandable concerns that Trump appointees could pursue measures to sabotage the law to placate the angry Oval Office occupant.

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Put consumers first by stabilizing, not sabotaging, health care law - Minneapolis Star Tribune