Michael Tanner‘s latest National Review Online column explores the latest developments in the health care reform debate on Capitol Hill.

Once upon a time in the far-off land of Washington, Republicans swore a mighty oath that, if they ever had the power, they would repeal Obamacare. Sometimes they added the word “replace,” but mostly, every Republican running for anything from president to the Tupelo school board vowed to rip the health-care law out by the roots, drive a stake through its heart, and shred it. Republicans in Congress even voted some 58 times to repeal all or part of the law. Sure, they knew that either Senate Democrats or President Obama would block their repeal attempts, but it was important to show everyone that they really, really, really hated this law. This was, after all, a very bad law that was driving up health-care costs, destabilizing health markets, and depriving Americans of their choice of insurance plan and sometimes their doctor.

Then, behold, a wondrous thing happened. Republicans won control not just of Congress but the presidency itself. Now, nothing stood in the way of their efforts to get rid of Obamacare. So, quickly they . . . oh, never mind.

The health-care bill released by Senate Republicans last week does many things. Repealing Obamacare is not one of them. In fact, this bill not only preserves the core of Obamacare, it may actually accomplish the difficult feat of making the health-care law’s many failures worse.