House To Vote On Repeal Of ObamaCare January 12th

One week after they are sworn into office, the new Republican House majority will vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act:

WASHINGTON – Republican leaders in the new House say they’ll hold a vote next week to repeal President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul.

The announcement of the Jan. 12 vote by the No. 2 House Republican, Virginia Rep. Eric Cantor, sets the stage for a showdown with the Democratic-led Senate.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said earlier Monday that Democrats in that chamber will block any attempt to repeal the landmark legislation extending coverage to more than 30 million uninsured people.

As I’ve noted already, this is a purely symbolic vote since a repeal bill will not get through the Senate, but there is one interesting question; how many House Democrats will vote for repeal:

House Democrats who voted against the healthcare bill last year are weighing whether to side with the GOP during next week’s vote to repeal the legislation.

Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), a liberal lawmaker who voted against the healthcare reform law because it taxes some healthcare benefits starting in 2018, told The Hill he won’t support Republicans’ repeal effort.

Three other House Democrats who voted “no” on the healthcare bill in March have already said they won’t vote for the repeal bill when it comes to the floor next Wednesday.

Republicans are hoping a number of Democrats will join their repeal effort and possibly create pressure on the Democrat-controlled Senate to get on board. Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), the incoming chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, told Fox News Sunday that Republicans hoped to get at least the Democrats who voted “no” on their side.

If the GOP isn’t able to get most of those previous “no” votes to vote with them next week, this is going to look like a purely partisan battle.

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Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

Comments

  1. Alex Knapp says:

    Interesting sidenote: there was no request for CBO scoring of repeal….

  2. mantis says:

    The Republicans have exempted their proposed health care reform repeal from their deficit rules for legislation. Why? Because repealing would raise the deficit.

    It’s ok, though. Stalwart, sane fiscal conservative Dodd thinks their new attitude is refreshing.

  3. mantis says:

    Alex,

    That’s because the CBO has already warned them, several times, that repeal would increase the deficit. They don’t care. How refreshing.

  4. Patrick T. McGuire says:

    “… but there is one interesting question; how many House Democrats will vote for repeal”

    Actually, the interesting question is how many Senate Democrats will be willing to defend Obamacare.

  5. mantis says:

    Actually, the interesting question is how many Senate Democrats will be willing to defend Obamacare.

    More than enough.

  6. Jack says:

    I signed the Repeal Pledge months ago to stop Obamacare, and now every politician with an agenda (LOL) is coming up with their own “pledge” – these are the guys that will end up dividing up the Republican party since they’re just looking to build up their donation lists for a presidential run in 2012. Ridiculous. Sign it here to show the Dems we are united: http://www.repealpledge.com

  7. Jack says: