GOP Leader Expects House To Block Health Spending

WASHINGTON (AP) - One of the House's top Republicans says he believes the chamber will soon vote to block spending for President Barack Obama's health care overhaul law.

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor told reporters Tuesday that by the time the House approves a government-wide spending bill for this year, it will end up prohibiting the use of money for the overhaul. The House is expected to debate that legislation shortly.

That overhaul, which became law last year, is one of Obama's proudest legislative achievements. Republicans have opposed it as a costly, big-government overreach.

Spending for government programs expires March 4 unless Congress approves new legislation providing extra funds.

Cantor, a Virginia Republican, and other GOP lawmakers want to use the spending bill to cut government expenditures across the board.