If Republicans get control of Congress after the midterm elections, the party will make the recent health care reform law unrecognizable, the chairman of the Republican Governors Association said Sunday.

Gov. Haley Barbour of Mississippi told NBC’s David Gregory that there would be significant changes to health care reform even if it wasn’t completely repealed.

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“I think if [Republicans] don’t fully repeal and replace it, they will make such big changes in it over the next three years that you won’t recognize it,” Barbour said.

Gregory asked Democratic National Committee chairman Tim Kaine why most Democrats were not campaigning on the health care reform accomplishments.

“A lot of them are,” Kaine argued.

“I’ve been to 40 plus states as DNC chair and you can pick out Democrats who are not running on health care but the overwhelming of candidates that I’m standing up with, they’re proud of the party, proud of the president, proud of the accomplishments. And they’re thrilled that they have reformed the health care system to stop insurance company abuses, make sure that young people can stay on family policies until age 26, help seniors and help small businesses,” he said.

Barbour told Gregory that he would be “surprised” if Republicans don’t win the House. “I think it’s harder in the Senate,” he said.

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Still, Kaine was hopeful that Democrats could keep control of the House. “If our voters turn out, we win,” Kaine said.

This video is from NBC’s Meet the Press, broadcast Oct. 31, 2010.



