The House is scheduled to vote Thursday on legislation repealing the Affordable Care Act. It marks the 37th time the GOP majority has scheduled a vote on bills to repeal or eliminate funding for the 2010 legislation, designed to provide health coverage for the uninsured. Republicans say the vote is needed, reflecting frustrations and clear problems with implementation of what...
The House is scheduled to vote Thursday on legislation repealing the Affordable Care Act. It marks the 37th time the GOP majority has scheduled a vote on bills to repeal or eliminate funding for the 2010 legislation, designed to provide health coverage for the uninsured.
Republicans say the vote is needed, reflecting frustrations and clear problems with implementation of what they call Obamacare. Democrats say that, like all previous votes, it's a gigantic waste of time. Like all previous repeal or defunding votes, this one is almost certain to die in the Democratic-led Senate.
Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, said it is appropriate now for Congress to take a vote. The Affordable Care Act nears full implementation in 2014.
"As Obamcare gets closer to implementation, it is becoming clear the bill is not ready for prime time," Scalise said. "In fact one of the authors of the bill, Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) says it is going to be a train wreck. We want to focus attention about the damage this bill is going to cause to our health care system and those with good health coverage now."
Rep. John Fleming, R-Minden, said there's a practical reason, as well. Most House Republicans who won election for the first time in 2012 campaigned on repealing the Affordable Care Act.
"They've not had the opportunity to fulfill their commitment to their constituents," Fleming said. He also argues that "sometimes it takes several attempts," as with the balanced budget bill and welfare reform bills of the 1990s. They weren't enacted into law until after multiple unsuccessful efforts in the GOP-led House.
Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-New Orleans, said Republicans must begin serious legislating.
"Why don't they work with Democrats to try to fix some of the problems with the Affordable Care Act, as opposed to continuing just offering up legislation to repeal it?" Richmond said. "It's just a waste of people's time and gives false hope to those who don't like the law and think that one day it's going to be repealed. It isn't."
Richmond said he's willing to work with Republicans to help small businesses concerned about the cost of providing insurance to its employees, or paying a penalty. He also said he would help Republicans work with states, such as Louisiana, that are refusing to implement the law's Medicaid expansion to provide health care coverage for low-income Americans.