House passes partial Obamacare repeal, cut Cadillac tax, medical device tax
A vote now moves to the Republican-controlled Senate, where passage is no guarantee.
The House on Friday approved a budget reconciliation bill that repeals parts of the Affordable Care Act, including the "Cadillac tax," medical device tax and the individual and employer mandates.
The 240 to 189 vote went along party lines, with only one Democrat in favor - Rep. Collin Peterson of Minnesota - and seven Republicans voting against. Peterson, who opposes abortion, voted for the bill that also defunds federal funding for Planning Parenthood.
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A vote now moves to the Republican-controlled Senate, where passage is no guarantee. Reconciliation in the Senate means the bill cannot be filibustered and can pass with a simple majority of 51 votes rather than 60.
If passed, the president would be expected to veto the bill, and if Congress can't override the veto, the reconciliation process is over.
Even some Republican senators indicate they would veto the bill.
On Thursday, Senators Mike Lee, R-Utah, Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Marco Rubio, R-Florida, released a statement saying repeal of parts of the ACA does not go far enough.
"Each of us campaigned on a promise to fully repeal Obamacare and a reconciliation bill is the best way to send such legislation to President Obama's desk. If this bill cannot be amended so that it fully repeals Obamacare pursuant to Senate rules, we cannot support this bill," they said.
Some in Congress on Friday alluded to the vote as a political exercise against ObamaCare that's been tried before.
"Once again we're considering a bill that dismantles the law without any credible alternatives …" said Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Virginia.
Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon said members of both parties should be discussing ways to improve the ACA.
"But instead of coming together about issues of common interest, the House is using its time to debate an unrealistic measure that would simply put healthcare beyond the reach of hard-working people," she said.
In September, the House Ways and Means Committee approved the reconciliation legislation that would repeal the individual mandate, the employer mandate, the Independent Payment Advisory Board, the medical device tax, and the "Cadillac tax."
Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, who recently announced he will run for House Speaker, said, "This bill is a big step toward dismantling Obamacare."
Twitter: @SusanJMorse
