House to Consider Health Care Repeal Next Week

AP / CBS

The House of Representatives will consider the bill to repeal President Obama's health care overhaul next week, the office of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said today.

The new Republican majority initially planned to consider the repeal bill this week as one of its first orders of business. However, this week's regular plans were put on hold after the mass shooting in Tucson, Ariz. that left Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) in critical condition.

"As the White House noted, it is important for Congress to get back to work, and to that end we will resume thoughtful consideration of the health care bill next week," Cantor spokesman Brad Dayspring said in a statement. "Americans have legitimate concerns about the cost of the new health care law and its effect on the ability to grow jobs in our country. It is our expectation that the debate will continue to focus on those substantive policy differences surrounding the new law."

A detailed schedule for debate will be released tomorrow.

The language used by Dayspring stands in stark contrast to the rhetoric Republicans used to describe the health care bill before the Tucson tragedy. Republicans had repeatedly referred to health care reforms as "job killing," and even named their repeal bill the "Repeal of the Jon-Killing Health Care Bill Act."

"The job-killing health care law was passed over the objections of the American people, and they have continued to speak out against it, loudly and clearly," House Speaker John Boehner said last Friday.

In an apparent acknowledgment of calls to change the tone in Washington, that language has been toned down. While Republicans still show opposition to the bill, they are now discussing "legitimate concerns" that requires "thoughtful consideration."

That stands in stark contrast to Cantor's vow on Saturday, before the shootings, "to fulfill our pledge to repeal the trillion dollar job-killing health care law that was rammed through Congress last year by the previous majority - despite the public outcry against it."

[RealiteBites]

When Pres. Obama campaigned, didn't he say he was going to open up the Federal employees group pool to anybody who wanted to join? What happened to that - how did that evolve into a mandate? Can you imagine what the stump speech for a mandate would have been like - he'd have been guaranteeing that people would have insurance because he was going to make people buy insurance whether they wanted to pay for it or not, they were going to pay for it. Then you'd have insurance. I mean like who would sign on for that?

I don't think people like hearing that they're being forced to buy something they don't feel like they want to buy, because without that purchase OTHER people can't benefit (like people with pre-existing conditions, seniors, and young adults. Maybe people might have been more open to being force to pay into a system like unemployment insurance for healthy people - like an emergency fund for healthy people?

And what about that Republican idea to nationalize insurance to increase competition and improve efficiency?

I don't think Pres. Obama can count on Republicans to take the initiative with ideas for an alternative to the mandate because this health care bill is a political windfall for them. So long as it's law, they're liable to keep picking up seats until they can get it repealed. But I dunno, Pres. Obama only seems to like to implement things that others have already tried, which would take all of the above off the table ...

PS Ya, if any portion of this bill is held to be Unconstitutional, then maybe single payer will be the next option - I guess part of the problem why health care is such a mess is because insurance companies' top priority by law is to profit, not help people. Like it's Government, not for-profit corporations that exists to help people first over seeking profit. So then they do things like refuse people who are risky bets, and scrimp on coverage, ask the Government to make people who don't need their services buy their products. Just imagine if this health care IS held to be Constitutional how mad people are going to be every time insurance companies announce record profits! Then maybe yeah, Republicans might suddenly say they like it and it'll be Democrats that want to repeal it and replace it with something new haha

What a mess :(

[levelheadedtoo]

If you are a business owner, and not Bill Gates, then you feel the pinch put on you by Health Insurance companies. We can not shop because the first question asked is your zip code. Then you are directed to a couple of companies that will offer a quote. The results of a quote are identical down to the dollar. They will call coverage by a different name but it is all the same. Then you must provide the SSN of your employees. This is so they can check for pre-existing conditions. If there are conditions, those employees and family members are not eligible. In the past five years we have seen premiums increase by 160%. The past two years increases have been 9% and 14% by far the lowest. Our insurance carrier sent us hundreds of email, phone calls and mail lobbying against a public option. I was taken in originally, but now, I want the congress to leave the bill alone or make it better for everyone. Health Insurance industry is out of control. I am the first to say profit is king because I need it run my business, but I must compete and so should they. My insurance salesman had the nerve to tell me if I want good insurance to run for public office or be a garbage collector.

[bradkt1]

Amd so the gridlock will continue.

[mnbrant]

No congress is known for getting one thing done. Spending money and resources on the behalf of their big donators. I am guessing that getting the bill passed into law cost 200 billion, repealing the law will cost 200 billion, getting the law passed again will cost 200 billion, repealing it again will cost 200 billion, getting the original bill passed with the public option will cost 200 billion, for a total cost of 2 trillion. Put it on my bill. Obviously congress and lobbyists are going to benefit and nobody else.

[RealiteBites]

haha - that's funny ... but unfortunately also true ...

[RealiteBites]

Re: kevjustice


Well that's my complaint about all this focus on tone, is that sure it'd be nice if everybody's polite. But taking more pains to mind one's social graces does nothing to bridge the divide.

Do Dems REALLY not think there's a chance that Justice Kennedy might find the mandate Unconstitutional? Do they have a plan b for if the mandate portion gets scrapped?

And it's not just that - people want health care reform, but a lot of people aren't comfortable with the idea of people being forced by the Government to buy a product from a for-profit corporation. And what's more it's an insurance product, and people oftentimes don't feel like they get their money's worth from buying insurance.

Does the political system have a vested interest in 'drawing a contrast' for election purposes or something? I think it's the lack of cooperation and problem-solving that bothers people more than the lack of civility per se, right ...

[RealiteBites]

And it's not just cooperation for the sake of 'getting things done' either. I mean like NAFTA was bipartisan. Repeal of Glass-Stegall was bipartisan. The vote to invade Iraq - hugely popular.

I think people are thirsting for progress.

[obboy2037]

The vote to invade Iraq was not hugely popular. I won't do the work for you, look it up yourself, It's easy to fine in the Congressional record. Pay close attention to the House vote.

[kevjustice]

if republicans were really SERIOUS about healthcare reform they would seek to AMEND the current bill instead of trying to REPEAL it. repeal is not going anywhere and everybody knows it. it's a waste of time and taxpayer money.

[RealiteBites]

Well that's my complaint about all this focus on tone, is that sure it'd be nice if everybody's polite. But taking more pains to mind one's social graces does nothing to bridge the divide.

Do Dems REALLY not think there's a chance that Justice Kennedy might find the mandate Unconstitutional? Do they have a plan b for if the mandate portion gets scrapped?

And it's not just that - people want health care reform, but a lot of people aren't comfortable with the idea of people being forced by the Government to buy a product from a for-profit corporation. And what's more it's an insurance product, and people oftentimes don't feel like they get their money's worth from buying insurance.

Does the political system have a vested interest in 'drawing a contrast' for election purposes or something? I think it's the lack of cooperation and problem-solving that bothers people more than the lack of civility per se, right ...

[tmittelstaed]

Voting to repeal is NOT "thoughtful consideration" of the health care bill. We all know that Boner has announced in advance that passage of repeal is predetermined so claiming to be "thoughtfully considering" the bill is a pile of steaming BS.

Boner committed to the rabid conservatives to run a repeal as a symbolic gesture but unless he's going to do it in the context of fire and brimstone and drag it out for a month so they can all posture about it, it is worthless gesture. Now he needs to quickly pass the repeal to mollify his base then forget about it and get back to some real work.

[jxknowles]

Cocktail parties, fund raisers, golf outings and voting to repeal the only meaningful legislation to pass over the last ten years. The GOP s-bags are in full lunatic assualt on middle America. Where are the jobs Boner? Where are the paychecks Speaker Boner? I can only hire so many people.

[justsane-2009]

i wish they would stop this posturing. they know full well the repeal will never make it through the senate, never mind that the president would veto their bill. you would think that they could attempt to do something positive, instead of continuing to do nothing more than flame the fires of discontent and discord.

we all need to start doing better; this would be a good starting place for the republicans.

[troutfishyman]

You would think the Health Bill would be a GOOD thing, especially if it provides some help for the mentally ill. I wonder if the GOP ever thinks about the bigger picture, or just their own little ideological playbook.

[sjc_1]

The GOP stated their goals, just say no and defeat the President.