EPTSo, if you haven't heard, the U.S. House of representatives passed a bill that repeals the most recent Healthcare changes. The vote was 245-189, with only three democrats voting in favor of the repeal. After this bill was passed, house Republicans started working on a new bill to replace the current one.
However, even though this passed through the house, it has 0% chance of becoming a law with the senate and Presidential veto in the way. So most are calling it a "symbolic" movement by the house Republicans.
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After a heated midterm election, the Republican-led U.S. House easily passed legislation Wednesday to repeal the nation's sweeping health care law.
The vote was 245-189. There were three Democrats who voted for repeal.
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, talks to a reporter after the GOP-led House passed a bill to repeal the nation's health care law.
Overturning the law was a major campaign pledge for Republicans in the 2010 elections, and many of the House's nearly 100 new lawmakers ran for Congress saying they would repeal the law pushed by President Obama and Democrats.
House Speaker John Boehner said the law would add nearly $1.5 trillion to the deficit and stifle the growth of some small businesses, which are required under the law to provide health insurance to employees or face penalties. A key issue for Republicans is that the law requires all Americans to have health insurance.
"Let's stop payment on this check before it can destroy more jobs and put us in an even deeper hole," Boehner said. "Then let's work together to put in place reforms that lower costs without destroying jobs or bankrupting this government."
Democrats failed in their procedural attempt to send the repeal bill back to committee for a discussion. Meanwhile, House Republicans are already preparing for four House committees to take the next step in the repeal effort and figure out ways to change the law.
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius reminded Americans that "this vote does not change the law" and that her department will continue to implement its provisions.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has vowed to block the measure, and Obama has threatened to veto it.
Reid denounced the House's repeal vote as a political stunt.
"This is nothing more than partisan grandstanding at a time when we should be working together to create jobs and strengthen the middle class," he said in a statement today.
Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., said the House was not engaged in a stunt. "This is not symbolic. This is why we were sent here," said Bachmann, a favorite of the small-government Tea Party movement.
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., challenged Reid and Senate Democrats to show their votes and debate the measure if they are so confident of stopping the repeal effort.
"The American people deserve a full hearing," Cantor said this morning. "They deserve to see this legislation go to the Senate for a full vote."
President Obama signs the health care law last year.
Obama said he's willing to work with both Democrats and Republicans to improve the law, but "we can't go backward."
The only surprise in Wednesday's vote was how many Democrats would support the repeal effort.
In the end, Democrats Dan Boren of Oklahoma, Mike McIntyre of North Carolina and Mike Ross of Arkansas were the only Democrats to join 242 Republicans to vote for the repeal legislation.
One issue key to the repeal debate is how much the law costs and the impact overturning it would have on the deficit. USA TODAY's Kelly Kennedy reports Republicans say the law will add $701 billion to the deficit while Democrats say repealing the measure will cost $230 billion.
Yesterday, Cantor sought to ease concerns from seniors who might think they would have to return $250 they received under the law to help pay for prescription drug costs. Democrats such as Rep. Ed Markey of Massachusetts have said throughout the repeal debate that seniors could be among those affected the most by overturning the law.
Shortly after the law was passed last year, about 2.8 million recipients of Medicare who have a gap in their prescription drug coverage (known as the doughnut hole) received $250 checks to help them defray the cost of medicines.
Asked yesterday whether Republicans would seek to have that money returned, Cantor said no.
"If a repeal bill passes ... the intention is not to require seniors to return the $250 checks they received," Cantor said at his weekly news briefing.
(Contributing: Associated Press)
The vote was 245-189. There were three Democrats who voted for repeal.
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, talks to a reporter after the GOP-led House passed a bill to repeal the nation's health care law.
Overturning the law was a major campaign pledge for Republicans in the 2010 elections, and many of the House's nearly 100 new lawmakers ran for Congress saying they would repeal the law pushed by President Obama and Democrats.
House Speaker John Boehner said the law would add nearly $1.5 trillion to the deficit and stifle the growth of some small businesses, which are required under the law to provide health insurance to employees or face penalties. A key issue for Republicans is that the law requires all Americans to have health insurance.
"Let's stop payment on this check before it can destroy more jobs and put us in an even deeper hole," Boehner said. "Then let's work together to put in place reforms that lower costs without destroying jobs or bankrupting this government."
Democrats failed in their procedural attempt to send the repeal bill back to committee for a discussion. Meanwhile, House Republicans are already preparing for four House committees to take the next step in the repeal effort and figure out ways to change the law.
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius reminded Americans that "this vote does not change the law" and that her department will continue to implement its provisions.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has vowed to block the measure, and Obama has threatened to veto it.
Reid denounced the House's repeal vote as a political stunt.
"This is nothing more than partisan grandstanding at a time when we should be working together to create jobs and strengthen the middle class," he said in a statement today.
Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., said the House was not engaged in a stunt. "This is not symbolic. This is why we were sent here," said Bachmann, a favorite of the small-government Tea Party movement.
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., challenged Reid and Senate Democrats to show their votes and debate the measure if they are so confident of stopping the repeal effort.
"The American people deserve a full hearing," Cantor said this morning. "They deserve to see this legislation go to the Senate for a full vote."
President Obama signs the health care law last year.
Obama said he's willing to work with both Democrats and Republicans to improve the law, but "we can't go backward."
The only surprise in Wednesday's vote was how many Democrats would support the repeal effort.
In the end, Democrats Dan Boren of Oklahoma, Mike McIntyre of North Carolina and Mike Ross of Arkansas were the only Democrats to join 242 Republicans to vote for the repeal legislation.
One issue key to the repeal debate is how much the law costs and the impact overturning it would have on the deficit. USA TODAY's Kelly Kennedy reports Republicans say the law will add $701 billion to the deficit while Democrats say repealing the measure will cost $230 billion.
Yesterday, Cantor sought to ease concerns from seniors who might think they would have to return $250 they received under the law to help pay for prescription drug costs. Democrats such as Rep. Ed Markey of Massachusetts have said throughout the repeal debate that seniors could be among those affected the most by overturning the law.
Shortly after the law was passed last year, about 2.8 million recipients of Medicare who have a gap in their prescription drug coverage (known as the doughnut hole) received $250 checks to help them defray the cost of medicines.
Asked yesterday whether Republicans would seek to have that money returned, Cantor said no.
"If a repeal bill passes ... the intention is not to require seniors to return the $250 checks they received," Cantor said at his weekly news briefing.
(Contributing: Associated Press)
Personal Opinion:
Seriously? They are holding up the entire legislative process in order to pass bills that have no chance of becoming a law? All the mean while, wasting tax payers money doing literally zero work.
I am trying to continue my stance as politically moderate but it is getting harder and harder. The term 'symbolic' was used to describe this event but I prefer to think of it as, how Steven Colbert put: "Republicans Pretend Time." This is absolutely appalling, and is making me question ever voting Repub again.
Edit: Due to the outstanding ignorance in this thread here you go:
Basically what is being repealed is changes to the U.S. Policy considering insurance agencies listed in the first 2:00. Not all of these changes passed but some did. Obviously "Socialist Obamacare" Did NOT pass through congress so that CANNOT be repealed
UPDATE: Obama addresses this directly in the State of the Union:
Go to 33:30 and watch 2 minutes.
It was like watching a teacher settle a dispute between two children.
John Boehner did not clap after Obama guaranteed his veto.
