WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 06: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY, (C), speaks to the media after attending a weekly luncheon with Senate Republicans at the Capitol, December 6, 2016 in Washington, DC. Senate Republicans gathered at the weekly luncheon to discuss their upcoming agenda. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Republican leaders in Congress have announced their intention to repeal key parts of Obamacare in early 2017, but delay the implementation of that repeal until 2019 or 2020. Some conservatives are complaining about this delay, arguing that the GOP should replace Obamacare immediately. But GOP leadership is right—and here’s why.

The fundamental problem is that in order to fully replace Obamacare, Republicans need to come up with a bipartisan plan that can attract the 60 votes necessary to overcome a Democratic filibuster.

Based on dozens of conversations I’ve had with Democrats on this subject, it seems clear that Republicans’ best and only chance to get 60 votes is to develop a plan that can cover approximately the same number of people as Obamacare—and ideally more.

Think about it the other way around. If Republicans try to pass legislation that covers 10 million fewer people than Obamacare, most Democrats won’t support it. And then when Obamacare’s funding streams expire, Dems will blame Republicans for the resultant turmoil. On the other hand, if Republicans draft legislation that credibly covers a comparable number of people to the ACA, then it’s Democrats who would look stubborn if they refuse to play ball.