RUSH: After a closed-door meeting this week, Senate Republicans announced they are adding a measure to their tax bill that would repeal Obamacare’s individual mandate.

Now that’s potentially a big deal. If this passes – and if the House signs off on it — that means Obamacare is basically gutted.

President Trump has previously said he’s on board. But until this week, Senate Republicans were afraid that injecting a political fight over Obamacare would ruin the tax bill’s chances.

In addition to restoring freedom, including the repeal in the tax bill will “free up” about $300 million in federal spending. Because the government won’t have to spend as much on subsidies as people opt out of Obamacare.

This isn’t a slam dunk. Democrats are 100 percent opposed to getting rid of the Obamacare mandate, and it only takes three GOP Senators to stand in the way.

Susan Collins is already voicing her “concerns” that adding the repeal provision will “complicate” tax reform. And it might stand in the way of a “compromise” healthcare bill proposed by Republican Lamar Alexander and Democrat Patty Murray.

The question is: After failing to repeal Obamacare many times, why have Republican senators decided to try it now? Maybe the Democrat victories in Virginia reminded these guys that elections do indeed have consequences — and so does breaking promises. Thank you, Russians.