The
Republican-controlled House approved legislation Friday that would undo parts
of ObamaCare and block federal funding to Planned Parenthood – though it faces
turbulence in the Senate, and a certain veto from President Obama should it
reach his desk. The bill passed 240-189.
Though Republicans have gone after the Affordable Care Act before, as well
as Planned Parenthood, this bill is unique in that it uses a parliamentary
tactic to make it easier to pass the Senate. Republicans wrapped the bill in a
procedure that would shield it from a Senate filibuster -- meaning it will need
only 51 votes to pass that chamber, as opposed to 60.
But it’s no guarantee
that the 54 Senate Republicans would back it, as it faces potential opposition
from moderate Republicans concerned it goes too far and GOP senators running
for president saying it doesn't go far enough. A pair of presidential
contenders -- Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Marco Rubio, R-Fla. -- along with
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, sent a letter this week to House Republicans urging
opposition to the bill, saying "This simply isn't good enough."
Still, House Republicans
cast the bill as a way to would help them sharpen political differences with
Democrats for next year's elections.
"This is our best
opportunity to date to put the bill on the president's desk and show the
American people where his priorities lie," said Rep. Diane Black,
R-Tenn.
The legislation would
eliminate the health law's requirements that most people who don't have
employer-provided health coverage buy individual policies, and that most
companies provide medical insurance. It would also eliminate the statute's
taxes on medical devices and high-priced insurance policies.
It also prevents Planned
Parenthood from getting federal money for a year -- the GOP reaction to
secretly recorded tapes that showed the group's officials describing how they
sometimes provide researchers with tissue from aborted fetuses.
Democrats called the
debate a political charade and a waste of time, saying the House has voted 61
times to repeal all or part of Obama's prized health overhaul since the GOP
took control of the chamber in 2011.
"This is a
hyper-partisan document that is just talking points for extremists," said
Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif.
In a statement promising
Obama's veto, the White House said the GOP measure "would take away
critical benefits and health care coverage from hard-working middle-class
families."
The Associated Press
contributed to this report.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/10/23/house-approves-bill-gutting-obamacare-cutting-planned-parenthood/
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