Will Obama-Care (Affordable Care Act) be repealed or significantly overhauled during 2017?

The short answer is no – ACA is strong and Congress is not – disharmony is the order of the day.

1. 6^th house = all matters of public health therefore with Gemini on the 6^th house cusp, Mercury (at 0 Virgo 50 and in the 8^th house) is the ruler of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
2. 11^th house = legislature and so with Scorpio on the cusp, Mars (at 4 Leo 00 conjunct 8^th house cusp) symbolises Congress.
3. Mercury (ACA) is in pretty good condition:
   1. in its own sign of ruler-ship (Virgo),
   2. in sect (Mercury is both diurnal and nocturnal),
   3. and in its own terms (classical astrology suggests Mercury in the terms of Mercury adds a ‘sober and honest’ element).
   4. Mercury is conjunct the fixed star, Regulus, which, as one of the Royal Stars of Persia, promises success only on certain conditions. With Regulus, that condition is avoidance of the temptation of revenge. Although legislation itself can’t have ‘motivation’ per se, the people involved with it can do. With Regulus, there is pressure to succeed, to shine, especially in bringing peace and civilisation. If those fighting to keep ACA alive and well focus on the positive aspects of the legislation rather than on gaining revenge against their legislative opponents, success for ACA is guaranteed.
   5. Finally, Mercury could be stronger if were angular, but it least it’s not cadent so overall, pretty good.
4. On the other hand, Mars (Congress) in Leo is not in such good condition:
   1. Mars in the terms of Jupiter does have capacity to bring ‘honour within the government’ and to ‘work with exalted people’.
   2. Mars is out of sect (nocturnal planet out of place during daytime) which, according to classical astrology adds an element of ‘ignoble employment’ as well as the ‘danger of injury’.
   3. Mars is very close to the 8^th house cusp therefore it is succeedent not angular,
   4. Mars could be worse off but could be much better so overall, not so good. Situation could improve, however, if Congress focuses on its capacity to ‘bring honour with government’ (possibly by working with exalted people).
5. Overall, Mercury (ACA) is stronger by far than is Mars (Congress).
6. Further, Mars (Congress) and Mercury (ACA) make no aspect to each other suggesting that, at least for the remainder of 2017, Congress will not pass anything significantly impacting ACA.
7. To make certain, we look to the Moon which, in a horary chart, is considered ‘dispositive’ of the entire situation (i.e. how it came to be and how it will unfold).
   1. The Moon (whilst in Virgo) has as yet made no Ptolemaic aspects (whilst tempting to include Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto in this, horary technically does not do so).
   2. The next aspect to be made by the Moon will be a square to Saturn – this does not look good – the combination of Moon/Saturn yields uncommunicative behaviour as well as lack of self-confidence. This suggests that the situation surrounding proposed changes to ACA will be characterised by anxiety and feelings of inhibition. On the positive side, there is a suggestion of increased care and attention as well as conscientious behaviour – sounds as if Congress might be giving proposed changes to ACA some serious, dutiful attention.
   3. The last aspect to be made by the Moon will be a square to Venus – this also does not look good for changes to ACA – with the general feeling in Congress one of weakness of will (being easily led by others) and moodiness. This too suggests that Congress will not get enough momentum to pass legislation significantly overhauling (much less repealing) ACA. Disharmony looks to be the order of the day in Washington during 2017 – so much for falling back and regrouping.