House Schedules Vote Next Week To Repeal Health Reform Law
House Republicans are set to begin debate on Jan. 7 regarding legislation that would repeal the federal health reform law and vote on the measure on Jan. 12, CQ Today reports (Ethridge, CQ Today, 1/3).
The GOP posted the two-page legislation on the House Rules Committee website (Berman, "Healthwatch," The Hill, 1/3).
GOP Plans
If the repeal measure is approved, the House then would vote on a separate resolution that would call on four committees to create health care legislation to address 12 goals, including lowering premiums and increasing the number of insured individuals (Budoff Brown, Politico, 1/3).
On Sunday, incoming House Energy and Commerce Chair Fred Upton (R-Mich.) said that the GOP plans to use its new majority in the House to deliver on its pledge to officially vote against the overhaul. He added that Republicans are counting on the Democrats who voted against the reform law last year to do so once again (Johnson, "Blog Briefing Room," The Hill, 1/2).
However, two of the 12 returning House Democrats who opposed the reform law last year -- Reps. Collin Peterson (Minn.) and Daniel Lipinski (Ill.) -- on Monday said they would not vote in favor of repealing the overhaul ("Healthwatch," The Hill, 1/3).
If the repeal passes the House, Upton said the GOP plans to pressure the Senate to follow suit. Upton said, "I don't think we're going to be that far off from having the votes to actually override a veto" from President Obama ("Blog Briefing Room," The Hill, 1/3).
Democrats Respond
In a letter sent Monday to incoming House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), Senate Democrats said they would not support the repeal if it passed the lower chamber. They defended provisions in the reform law that already are benefiting U.S. residents, such as one offering discounts for prescription drug coverage to help close Medicare's so-called doughnut hole.
Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) said of the GOP strategy, "Republicans want another debate about health care reform? Well, so should Democrats," adding, "They beat us in Round One with lies and scare tactics. We welcome a second shot" (Kane, Washington Post, 1/3).
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