House Expected To Vote on Measures To Remove Reform Law Funding
On Friday, the House is expected to vote on an amendment introduced by Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.) that would defund the federal health reform law, the Washington Post's "44" reports.
The amendment is attached to the GOP continuing resolution (HR 1) spending bill (Sonmez/Kane, "44," Washington Post, 2/17).
Vote Details
Rehberg's amendment states that no money can be used for "any employee, officer, contractor, or grantee of any department or agency" funded by the reform law. If passed, the measure would prevent funding for implementing the reform law, while Republicans "continue to work for a full legislative or judicial repeal" (Millman, "Healthwatch," The Hill, 2/16).
Lawmakers also will vote on an amendment introduced by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) that would prevent the Internal Revenue Service from spending any funds on implementing the law.
McMorris Rodgers said that her amendment would move the country "away from an IRS-driven health care system and back towards a patient-centered system" (Sonmez, "44," Washington Post, 2/17).
Neither amendment is expected to become law. Even if the House approves the amendments, the Senate is expected to oppose the measures, and President Obama has said he would veto them (Cowan/Smith, Reuters, 2/17).
California Lawmakers Warn of Cuts
Meanwhile, California lawmakers say that provisions contained in the GOP continuing resolution to fund the federal government could have health care-related implications for the state (Lochhead, San Francisco Chronicle, 2/18).
For example, the continuing resolution would:
- Remove $1.2 billion in funds for community health centers, including for 895 centers in California; and
- Slash by more than $1 billion funding for NIH.
In 2010, California was awarded a total of $3.3 billion in NIH funding (Doyle, Fresno Bee, 2/18).
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