As House debates repeal, Obama defends health care law

President Barack Obama speaks at the Kirkwood Community College Recreation Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Tuesday, July 10, 2012.

/ AP Photo/Susan Walsh

(CBS News) As members of the House of Representatives debate a bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act, President Obama on Tuesday defended the law, telling voters at a campaign speech that health care reform was "the right thing to do."

Mr. Obama, speaking to an animated crowd in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, assured voters that the controversial law, which the Supreme Court recently voted to uphold, is "here to stay" despite continued Republican efforts to get rid of it.

"I will work with anybody to improve the health care law where we can, but this law is here to stay," Mr. Obama told the crowd, to applause. "And it will help the vast majority of Americans feel greater security. If you've got health insurance, it's going to be more secure because insurance companies can't jerk you around because of fine print. If you don't have health insurance, we'll help you get it."

Even as the president touted the health care law to voters in Iowa, however, the House of Representatives was in the midst of a heated debate over its merits.

A post-Supreme Court guide to the health care law

House members voted 240-182 in favor of a rule setting up five hours of debate on a GOP-sponsored bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which will be up for a vote this week. Four Democrats -- Reps. Dan Boren, of Okla.; Mike Ross, of Ark.; and Larry Kissell and Mike McIntyre, both of N.C. -- voted for the rule, and are expected to vote in favor of the repeal as well.

Republicans argue that in light of the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the law, a congressional bill to repeal the law is more necessary than ever.

"Obamacare is now the official law of the land," said Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, referencing the decision. "However, there is something this body can do to reverse the course and to prevent the job-destroying aspects of this bill from taking effect: a complete repeal of the bill."

White House press secretary Jay Carney scolds GOP repeal efforts in the video to the left.

Democrats, meanwhile, argue that holding another vote to repeal the bill - this will be the 33rd vote to either repeal, defund, or dismantle the law since it was passed - is a waste of time and resources, particularly as the bill is unlikely to pass in the Senate.

"Never in the history of this Congress... has anybody voted this many times on a single issue," said Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., in remarks on the House floor. "And why? Because we don't have anything else to do."

Introducing the repeal bill was just one component of a multifaceted GOP campaign against the health care law Tuesday. Also on Tuesday, Republicans held a series of congressional panels, news conferences, and interviews aimed at discrediting the law's benefits, as well as touting both Republican policies and candidates.

"It's very important for us to get health care for the American people the way they want it and to get it right," said Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., in an interview on CBS News. "I think many of us were disappointed by the Supreme Court decision and most Americans have rejected Obamacare."

Watch Cantor's remarks in the video to the left.

"We don't want Washington telling folks what kind of health care they should have," he added. "We know the president is not going to sign a repeal bill as long as he's sitting in the White House it's another one of those things that makes this election the most impactful in our lifetime."

[nancy_naive]

It's a tax credit, not a tax. Got insurance? Then you receive a tax credit.

[wfw3536]

Is Obama defending the fact that he sold Obamacare on the fact it wasn't a tax, yet his government attorneys submitted 11 pages of arguments that it was a tax to the Supreme Court. Sad that our President wasn't honest with the American people. For a family making 50,000 dollars a year who can't afford health insurance they will have to pay almost 2,000 dollars a year in 2016 as tax for not taking health insurance, or they could take a government handout of 8,000 dollars on a 12,000 family plan and pay 4,000 dollars a year for their health insurance. This will affect about 4 million folks when Obamataxcare starts in 2014.

[marychgo]

What ever happened to "responsibility"? A family earning $50,000 a year is earning $4,183 a month. After taxes, that's probably something between $3,500 and $3,900 a month, depending on how many kids they have. Their $4,000 a year insurance premium would be about $333 a month; the ACA penalty tax for not having health insurance would be $167 a month. MOST families earning $50,000 a year who don't have health insurance would be THRILLED to be able to get a decent health insurance plan for a net cost of $166 a month -- wouldn't YOU?

[Ulgnud]

Of course he defends it. He is hoping Americans won't see the huge tax increases he, and the liberal Congress sneaked in before November 2012.

[Ben37221]

When you have a plan that can provide 30 million people with healthcare coverage, it is a christian thing to do. It is the moral thing to do. It is the right thing to do.
When that plan tells the insurance companies that they cannot charge women more than men just because they are women, it is the Christian thing to do. It is the moral thing to do, and it is the right thing to do.
Even better, when that law tells the insurance companies that they cannot descriminate against children with pre-existing condition by refusing them coverage, it is the Christian thing to do. It is the moral thing to do, and it is the right thing to do.
It is obvious that the republican healthcare plan is just don't get sick. If you do, you are on your own. This is a party that calls itself right to life?

[marychgo]

For the vast majority of people who have insurance through their employers, jgg, the ONLY impact of the Affordable Care Act will be to eliminate lifetime limits and broaden the preventive benefits that won't be subject to deductibles and co-pays. If your employer is self-insured, your plan will still be self-insured. If your employer's plan is insured, the insurer will be required to spent 80 to 85% of premiums on medical care or pay a rebate.

NOTHING about "government's direct involvement" or "penalizing citizens for non-involvement" will affect you AT ALL if your employer continues to sponsor the plan that currently covers you. And the vast majority of employers WILL continue to sponsor their plans!

[mary-miami]

HealthCare is a human right. Everyone deserves the opportunity to see a doctor, dentist or optometrist if they need it, for FREE. How to pay for it? Tax The Rich. President Obama is the best leader the USA has had in many years. He helps the working class despite the fact that the GOP have been obstructing progress since day one of this administration. Republicans don't care about the working class and never have, because the GOP goal is to establish slave labor. I will vote to Re-Elect President Obama.

[Ulgnud]

Typical liberal. My handout is a right that you must be taxed to pay for.

[lg144]

Republicans espouse everyman for himself when it comes to average Americans. But they rush to give taxpayer dollars to corporations, big oil and the super rich. The republican party is a party of selfish, good for nothing con men if you haven't figured that out by now.

[hypnotoad72]

I recall that name, Cantor, somewhere... here it is:

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/06/27/eric_cantor_conflict_of_interest/index.html

Oh dear. Trying to profit from America's demise? And he claims to represent this country?!!!!!

[hypnotoad72]

Obama shows a lot - he compromised with the GOP, right down to using Romney's advisers to help craft it...

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2012/mar/20/romneycare-and-obamacare-can-you-tell-difference/

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/10/11/romneys-advisers-met-with-obama-to-help-craft-obama-care/

http://www.forbes.com/sites/aroy/2011/10/11/how-mitt-romneys-health-care-experts-helped-design-obamacare/


Obama would rather work with people.

He worked with the GOP and they spit on him in response.

Mr. President, you've definitely showed a lot with this issue.

Play the winning card.

Spike the ball - you deserve it.

[tigrissupinus]

Yep. He actually angered a lot of liberals by his willingness to compromise.

I wish there were more moderate republicans around now a days.
More lucrative to be a lemming though I suppose.

[girlinvt-2009]

I just got word from Cigna medical that if I smoke I would have to pay a higher premium. Cant wait for insurance co. to start charging more for those who drink more than three beers a night or are over weight,or what ever they decide we shouldnt be able to do...

[hypnotoad72]

Given how high insurance premiums have gotten each year before this reform was crafted, I would be inclined to compare how much higher a premium one has to pay compared to the past, and the amount of benefits received in the process.

I'll let you know in 2014... each year, I see premiums go up, which means less money in my pocket, and I see coverage options dwindle. People 20 years older also had access to drugs before the company I worked at switched providers (which also removed our ability to see the doctors WE wanted because the insurance company dictated terms...)

We'll see what happens. Right now, there's a lot of knee-jerk reactions and a lot more shorter memories... which doesn't exclude me...

[nearl451]

It's beann abouta 20% premium increase per annum with or without the AHCA.

Trouble that you identify is because there is no PUBLIC plan to compete with the private plans......therefore Insurance co's will make the rules.

[janeteleanor]

If you read the Obamacare bill you will see Obama has NO RESPECT FOR LIFE.

[dannysteele]

And that's why he wants everyone to have health insurance, so people will get sick and die early?

[hypnotoad72]

Here's an example of an entity that truly has NO RESPECT FOR LIFE:

http://buyingindividualhealthinsurancepolicy.org/2011/04/02/newborn-with-birth-defect-denied-health-care-coverage-because-of-pre-existing-condition/

If that URL doesn't load, try this one:

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/03/26-0

Also, read my direct response to the article above as well. Isn't context cool?