GOP Health Care Repeal Bill Passes in House
The Republican-controlled House voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to pass a repeal health care legislation proposed by President Barack Obama.
The repeal passed the U.S. House of Representative by a vote of 245-189 to reverse the president's prized health care reform signed into law last March.
The repeal shows House GOP members are anxious to act on its legislative agenda to reverse ObamaCare and stop abortion funding among other items.
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An Associated Press-GFK GFK released earlier this week found that while opposition to the 2010 health care reform bill has remained high, it has decreased over the last couple of months. According to the poll, 40 percent of 1,001 respondents said they support it, while 41 percent said they oppose it. After the November congressional elections, 47 percent had opposed the legislation.
About one in four said they support repeal, 43 percent said they want the law changed, and less than one in five said it should be left as is.
Despite the recent polling, Republicans say they have strong constituent support for the health care repeal. In a Tuesday statement, the American Center for Law and Justice announced that it has heard from more than 70,000 Americans urging Congress to repeal Obama's healthcare bill. These Americans signed a petition, stating that health care reform is pro-abortion and a product of big government.
The constitutional law firm also pointed out that the constitutionality of the legislation is currently under question. There are challenges in several states, filed by several entities, including the ACLJ.
President Obama communicated a slight willingness to compromise with Republicans over the bill. He has promised to work with the GOP to change aspects of the sweeping bill. However, he has also made clear that he will veto any effort to repeal the bill altogether.
The Democratically-led Senate has also already promised to block passage of the GOP's repeal. In the event of a presidential veto, Republicans lack the votes in the Senate to override it.
What looks like a failed effort to some, may be leverage for the passage of the Title X blocking abortion groups such as Planned Parenthood from receiving federal grants. Conservative policy groups such as Citizen Link and Susan B. Anthony List have pushed for the passage of the Title X bill.
Still, Republicans are still developing a possible replacement health care bill removing the legislation's requirement that citizens have private or employer-provided health insurance.
