Former Speaker John Boehner John Andrew BoehnerEx-GOP lawmaker joins marijuana trade group Crowley, Shuster moving to K Street On unilateral executive action, Mitch McConnell was right — in 2014 MORE (R-Ohio) predicts Republicans will “never” repeal and replace ObamaCare, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday.

Boehner John Andrew BoehnerEx-GOP lawmaker joins marijuana trade group Crowley, Shuster moving to K Street On unilateral executive action, Mitch McConnell was right — in 2014 MORE told a group in Las Vegas last week that Republicans are “not going to repeal and replace ObamaCare” because “the American people have gotten accustomed to it,” according to video obtained by the Post.

“Here we are, seven months into this year, and yet they’ve not passed this bill. Now, they’re never — they’re not going to repeal and replace ObamaCare,” Boehner said. “It’s been around too long. And the American people have gotten accustomed to it. Governors have gotten accustomed to this Medicaid expansion, and so trying to pull it back is really not going to work.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Boehner suggested his colleagues should peel away some tax provisions, regulations and end health insurance mandates.

“When it’s all said and done, you’re not going to have an employer mandate anymore, you’re not going to have the individual mandate,” Boehner said. “The Medicaid expansion will be there. The governors will have more control over their Medicaid populations and how to get them care, and a lot of ObamaCare taxes will probably go.”

Boehner also warned that if Republicans fail to pass legislation on healthcare, taxes and infrastructure, “they’re going to get annihilated” in next year’s midterm elections.

Republicans are expected to vote to take up the House-passed healthcare bill on Tuesday afternoon. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellWhite House pleads with Senate GOP on emergency declaration Senate Dems seek to turn tables on GOP in climate change fight Pence meets with Senate GOP for 'robust' discussion on Trump declaration MORE (R-Ky.) will need 50 of the Senate's 52 Republicans to support the motion to proceed, and the vote is expected to be close.

— This report was updated at 8:09 a.m.