Government

House Vote Brings Congress One Step Closer to Obamacare Repeal

WASHINGTON (AP) — The new Republican-led House has taken the first step in its symbolic attempt to repeal President Barack Obama’s landmark health care overhaul.

Democrats who still control the Senate say it won’t get much further than that.

Voting largely along party lines, the House on Friday set the rules for a debate next week that will culminate in an up-or-down vote on repeal. The House will then direct several committees to come up with a more modest replacement. But even if that works, the process could take months. The vote was 236-181.

Democrats point to congressional budget scorekeepers who say repeal will increase the federal deficit by $230 billion and leave millions more uninsured. Republicans say killing the program now will save taxpayers money.

Comments (115)

  • Steve Neiling
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:27pm

    It’s unfortunate that the political debate seems to frequently settle on costs or savings. American politics is about (or should be about) preservation of rights. Sometimes that’s a costly endeavor (ie wartime), sometimes it’s not (shutting down the multitude of regulatory agencies, for instance). I look for the day when our gov’t officials are primarily debating the best way to preserve the God-given rights of this nation’s citizens. That’s the issue. Costs and savings are secondary, at least in my opinion.

    Report Post »  
  • Sgt.Crust
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:16pm

    I’m posting this everywhere, so get used to it!

    We The People, of The Blaze, please join me, stand with your right hand over your heart and recite OUR Pledge of Allegiance:

    “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

    Here and now, I will take a shot of Whiskey to SEAL THE DEAL, and I pass the bottle to each of you! Give me a Yea, if you participate, or a Nay if you will not.

    I am going to write this in my own blood, and by God I mean it, and will defend our great country with my last drop of it, so help me God!

    Report Post »  
    • WhiteTeaParty
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:35pm

      You are one huge whack job.
      Does your double wide have any heat? I think the cold winter air is cutting off the circulation to your brain.

      Report Post » WhiteTeaParty  
    • Sgt.Crust
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:46pm

      Whitetea, thanks for the kind words and support, I guess you would be a Nay then, which stands to reason.

      Report Post »  
    • UpstateNYConservative
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 1:56pm

      @WhiteTeaParty

      Affiliation aside, don‘t you agree it’s time to remove the power of the elitists in government? Realistically, to whom do we owe an allegiance; to what person shall we entrust our lives and fortunes?

      I rather ally to an ideal and, with enough people of good conscience with me, make that ideal closer to reality. Yes, we can quibble about details and the fact that nothing is perfect, but it’s not a bad thing to try getting closer to perfection as we can.

      Instead of mockery and slandering, the Left should be joining us to reach the goal of bettering our lives, as a people and a Nation. Many on the Right need to do that, too, in my estimate. All of Man’s progress over the centuries started as an idea, going all the way back to the mastery of fire and the invention of the wheel.

      Instead of bashing the ‘opposition’, people need to active–and whining in the streets isn’t being active, I say. Call your Rep, call your Senators. Make real things happen that last a lifetime.

      Mocking a man who has solid core values gets no one anywhere.

      BTW–maybe you’ll never drink with him, but if I get chance I gladly will. And I’m buying the Chivas.

      Report Post » UpstateNYConservative  
    • Sgt.Crust
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 2:57pm

      HERE, HERE, UPSTATE, I raise a toast to you! Thanks.

      Report Post »  
    • NancyBee
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 7:24pm

      Sgt.Crust…..Yea Yea I’m with you !

      Report Post » NancyBee  
    • Sgt.Crust
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:57pm

      Thanks Nancy! I know I can have an acerbic tongue at times, then preach the love of Jesus Christ the next, but here’s the deal, I’m a sinner, and I repent of my sins for all to see. So, I have been guilty in the past, as the next, in putting people down and calling them names, with spicey adjectives, for that I am sorry.

      But I won’t stand down from my words here today, I stand firm in those words.

      May God Bless you all, and to you a good night!

      Report Post »  
    • bigbonebaby
      Posted on January 8, 2011 at 1:05pm

      Sgt Crust I’m in if Wine will seal the deal :)

      Report Post »  
  • heavyduty
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:10pm

    Not only repeal it but also jam it up Obama, Pelosi, and Reids butts.

    Report Post »  
  • UpstateNYConservative
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:09pm

    Since the Senate is the hangup, let’s call our Senators to request they vote to repeal Obamacare. Let’s get active and advocate for ourselves. Put the legal and popular pressure on!

    Report Post » UpstateNYConservative  
    • UpstateNYConservative
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:19pm

      Reached Gillibrand, to request vote to repeal Obamacare. I can’t reach Schumer yet, but it’s lunchtime. Later…

      Let‘s hit ’em up, friends! Be polite, please (the SS might look at you if you’re not), and let’s see if we can make this happen.

      Power to the people!

      Report Post » UpstateNYConservative  
    • UpstateNYConservative
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 2:13pm

      Still can’t reach NY Sen. Schumer. But I won’t quit.

      Somehow, I think the invention of the telephone is the worst thing that ever happened to a member of Congress!

      Report Post » UpstateNYConservative  
  • Bill May
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:02pm

    Add your comments

    Report Post »  
  • Bill May
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:59am

    Ninety year old single males supplemental medicare coverage must include maternity benefits under Obamacare. This only makes sense if you are trying to get great grandpa to pay for Pedros healthcare. The need for death panels will disappear when the affirmative action doctors start practicing medicine. Obamacare contains huge financial incentives for this to happen. We know that many doctors cannot write a legible prescription. Just wait until they graduate from medical school withyout knowing how to read!

    Report Post »  
  • Workforit
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:55am

    Names… I want names! I want the voting record for the next two years…. on every one of them! Congress and Senate! 2012 can’t get here soon enough for me!

    Report Post »  
    • WhiteTeaParty
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:05pm

      Yeah right, as if you have some kind of power.

      You stupid Tea Baggers thought you could vote out Harry Reid, and couldn’t.
      Tea Baggers were only 7 out of 12 on people you supported in Nov 2010 election.
      You pretend to have some sort of power when you don’t.

      Report Post » WhiteTeaParty  
  • love the kids
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:51am

    This should be put up for a referendum vote. The Republicans should introduce legislation that ANY bill should come up for a refererendum vote if it affects more than 10% of the nations GDP.
    2/3 rds of Americans are against this, but it gets shoved pass anyway.

    Report Post »  
  • flagbearer
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:48am

    If they can’t repeal it, make sure there’s legislation that mandates members give up their own health insurance and become covered under Obama Care. Seems to me I saw quite a few very elderly Dems. They need to be first on the death panel lists.

    Report Post »  
  • Mikee T
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:47am

    Lest we forget that the democratically controlled congress gave the CBO the “factors” they could use to derive the budget implications……….of course, they omitted so much of the truth that the real distored numbers are more like 500 billion our way if we DON”T ALLOW OBAMACARE over the next 10 years… There is so much corruption at the highest levels that even our Congressional Budget Office has admitted that the numbers they come up with are probably not altruistic…yet, they have to follow the rules that congress gives them…..never mind telling us the truth….GOD FORBID !!!

    Report Post »  
  • justice
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:45am

    Keep on Rollin!

    Report Post »  
  • alpha_grower
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:43am

    It is time the politicians followed the example the American people are setting – forget the “party lines” and vote as the constituents are asking them to vote. There are currently two “health care” programs funded by us and run by the government that are out of control – Medicare and Medicaid – and if you add the financially crippled Social Security program to this list, the faith once placed that the government would “take care of us” has been eradicated. I believe the time for debate and formation of committees for this issue is over. Just a few months ago the chant was “Kill the Bill”. Now it should be “Repeal the Deal”.

    Report Post »  
  • Krutch
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:42am

    Good start. Defund it all at the same time,and save the taxpayer the apprehention.

    Report Post »  
  • WhatsUp
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:40am

    Where can we find a list of who voted for/against this–we are compiling articles/info to use against our Congressperson for the 2012 election–if the Census can’t get him out, hopefully his voting record will–Thanks for any help with finding the voting record!

    Report Post » WhatsUp  
  • Helldogger
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:40am

    I don’t care they do. At my house it is REPEALED!!! I vetoed it! And I am the people. They can come get me & take me to jail but whoever they send needs to kiss his wife & kids goodbye that morning & make sure all his affairs are in order.
    There are only 2 sides of this issue. The American Godly side & the Anti-American/anti-Christ side.

    Report Post » Helldogger  
    • untameable-kate
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:56am

      Likewise, The day I cave in in this one is the day hell freezes over. I’ll be in the cell next to yours I reccon.

      Report Post » Untameable-kate  
    • Sgt.Crust
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 4:00pm

      I’ll be right there with ya friend!

      Report Post »  
  • GoingBeck
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:37am

    Pundits are saying vote to repeal is symbolic, because of
    this and that and yadah, yadah, yayah.

    Play the game. Let’s see which players really have what it takes.

    Report Post »  
  • EqualJustice
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:35am

    It WILL happen, one way or another! Finally, WE will be heard. :)

    Report Post » EqualJustice  
  • chickenlittle
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:34am

    “Symbolic attempt” “mostly along party lines” … typical AP biased reporting.

    Report Post » chickenlittle  
    • chickenlittle
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:43am

      Republicans are saying a lot more than just “saving money now” … they‘ve just found with their slanted reporting that if they don’t talk about Republican alternatives and fixes (lying by omision), they can perpetuate the myth that none are offered and that conservatives just don’t care about medical care.

      Report Post » chickenlittle  
  • bullzi
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:33am

    It’s all just smoke and mirrors anyway. The repubs know that even if it got past the senate (highly unlikely) Obumma would veto it. Nothing but a joke here gang.

    Report Post »  
    • oldguy49
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:38am

      but we have there votes on the record…..if they did not vote to git rid of this piece of crap then we the people can vote to get rid of the piece of crap that votes for it…………

      Report Post »  
    • ataxia162
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 4:20pm

      As for me. I want to know where they stand. I make lists of people in the Congress based on their votes on the major issues. That tells me who goes on the support or don’t support list. I watch their votes rather than listen to what they say as it tells me much more about their character.

      Report Post » ataxia162  
  • WBOB
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:32am

    Repeal it. And if the Senate does do the same or Urkel doesn’t sign it. Then defund the piece o crap legislation

    Report Post » WBOB  
  • Thighmaster
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:31am

    Good judgement comes from experience, experience comes from bad judgement. Repeal it!

    Report Post » Thighmaster  
  • sswendell
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:30am

    Simple answers can solve large problems. All a 2,000 page bill does is provide 2,000 pages of loop holes and excuses as to why it does not work.

    Report Post »  
    • Mikee T
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:40pm

      EXACTLY………..this is the very nature of political semantics and fraud…..through and through…and that’s what they are “producing” with the “Ivy League Clan”…little miscreant aides that are empowered to convolute eveything in an effort to beguile and marginalize we….the common country class folk…….or so they think…….. Just remember…you reap what you sow….and they are going to reap what they sow as long as the MAJORITY of us common sense folks…which, btw, we are intelligent beings in our own right………decide, once and for all…THE PARTY IS OVER for Washington’s “good ole boy” network of thieves…..

      Report Post »  
  • trouble13
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:29am

    It is not a symbolic attempt, It is a real effort and by taking a vote it puts every represenitive on record on where they stand on repealing this giving the voters a clear understanding of who stands where on this issue. Votes like this may seem symbolic to the progressives but for the rest of us they are tools to help us decide who we will be electing each election cycle. Reforming our government is not a one election process, it is a long term overhaul.

    Report Post »  
  • tobywil2
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:27am

    What a shame. Obama had the solution to the Social Security trust fund problem.
    THE PRESIDENT’S PLAN TO SAVE SOCIAL SECURITY:

    Our President has a courageous plan to save both Social Security and Medicare

    The Social Security Trust Fund is almost bankrupt and the Medicare trust fund is bankrupt. The problem has been apparent for years but until now no one has advanced a plan to save these popular programs.

    At last, our President has the courage to propose a solution! It is so simple that one wonders why no one thought of it before. The solution?

    Enact a “Health Care Reform Bill” the severely rations health care to the elderly. This will save the Medicare Trust Fund and allow it to be used to reward the Presidents political cronies and provide health care for “deserving Illegal Aliens.”

    Deprived of medical care, the lifespan of the elderly will be reduced, depleting the number of recipients of the Social Security Trust Fund, saving that popular program.

    Both problems solved! Why did it take so long to find such a simple solution?
    http://commonsense21c.com/

    Report Post » tobywil2  
    • myfamily04
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:34am

      Toby, us stupid American, Glen Beck fans are not supposed to put all of those puzzle pieces together. That is why the bill was over 2,000 pages…so it took us years to find it all.

      Report Post »  
    • untameable-kate
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:36am

      Oh Toby, you are killing me with this, this early in the day. Clearly since an overwhelming number of seniors are republican they need to be done away with. Just as clearly the overwhelming number of minorities are and will be (when BO gives them the right to vote) democrat entitlement welfare slugs.

      Report Post » Untameable-kate  
    • vennoye
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:47am

      You are so right………like winning a trifecta for the Progressives who care so much for the “little people”. EU type healthcare would get Seniors off Healthcare, Social Security and Medicare….that’s a three fold win. When I told people this before healthcare debate started, they said that I was mean!

      Report Post » vennoye  
    • snowleopard3200 {cat folk art}
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:50am

      @Toby

      There may be an even simpler plan the Progressives have. Control the food and water supplies, and those who disagree with you will either change their ways to the progressive point of view, or finally be dead of thirst and starvation, whichever comes first.

      Stalin and his reforms sent millions to their deaths, so did Mao and Po Pot in their own countries.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • tobywil2
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:55am

      The “Progressive Movement” is simply the transition between individual freedom (Capitalism) and Tyranny!
      http://commonsense21c.com/

      Report Post » tobywil2  
    • Slobaphobe
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:56am

      Simple Solution…Final Solution…also known as the Whole Lives Plan.

      Report Post »  
    • pamela kay
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 1:40pm

      TOBYWIL2, You my friend have put things in perspective and made it easily understood.This makes perfect sense and will undoubtably spread the wealth. By eliminating the elderly and many republicains the progressives can save those programs for the freeloaders and obama will come off as a hero. With the indoctrination of our youth, changing history for future generations,and taking out all christians and our constitution, they could take control. Who would be there to explain our past if it were erased and who would be left to question how or why it happened?

      Report Post » pamela kay  
  • 912828Buckeye
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:26am

    Outstanding!

    Report Post » 912828Buckeye  
    • snowleopard3200 {cat folk art}
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:32am

      And so we begin; it will take time, but we need to keep shaking the progressive tree and structure harder and harder until it is taken apart and the constitution based government is restored completely to the peoples control.

      http://www.artinphoenix.com/gallery/grimm

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • Anonimouse
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:33am

      Bravo!

      Report Post »  
    • M 4 Colt
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:35am

      Tear down Obama care the sooner the better

      Report Post »  
    • taskmaster78
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:37am

      Here, Here

      Report Post »  
    • Rogue
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:46am

      Hey now – the dems say it’s going to cost us billions if repealed… just like it cost us over a trillion bucks to let people keep thier own money via the tax rate, err…cut, extention. The Dems forgot to mention the multi-trillions that repeal will cost us when people aren’t forced to pay the government penalties for keeping thier own private insurance. Those damn Repubs will increase our deficit by around 4-5 trillion dollars!

      /end sarcasm

      Report Post » Rogue  
    • NoMoreGray
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:47am

      If the Senate refuses to put the bill to a vote the House needs to refuse to address any Senate business until they do!

      Report Post »  
    • snowleopard3200 {cat folk art}
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:48am

      To the Conservatives of the House, if you want I will rent a bulldozer and knock down any legislation into the recycle bins that you want; just tell me where they are stored at, and away they will go.

      YES!!!

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • NickDeringer
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:52am

      First steps. Let’s see if they follow through. Pardon my skepticism.

      Report Post » NickDeringer  
    • tradexpertbuysell
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:04pm

      Hit em like they hit us!

      Investigations, inquiries, audits, litigations. Stick it to em and keep then so busy they’ll feel like a one legged man in an ass kicking contest. Only it will be conservatives doing the kicking with over 30 million plus legs!

      OVERWHELM THEIR @#$!& SOCIALISTIC SYSTEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Report Post »  
    • MOVETERAN
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:04pm

      Well lets see if the Repbulicans have the backbone to see this thing through. I hope so.

      Report Post » MOVETERAN  
    • AzDebi
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:08pm

      Get a load of this…The CBO’s “own numbers” ALSO indicate that NOT REPEALING Obamacare will increase the deficit by 701 BILLION dollars…and kill 1.5 MILLION JOBS!

      When Ryan is asked by Gretta if the CBO is partisan against the Republicans…Ryan says that they are NOT…sooooo…basically our “Representatives” have to understand the GAME…no wonder they don’t think about the Constitutional authority about what they are doing…they are too BUSY figuring out how to PLAY THE GAME…

      We have a CBO that simply MUST report on what’s requested and the all of them, as usual, skew things to get the result that they want to report to us! Does this blow your mind?…I’m sick of it!

      At about 1:10 into the video…Gretta speaks to Paul Ryan about this…get a load of this…DOUBLE numbers coming out of the CBO…Amazing…see just how twisted our government has become…I don’t know how they even know what they are doing!

      http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/on-the-record/index.html#/v/4488367/ryan-the-spending-spree-is-over/?playlist_id=86925

      Report Post » AzDebi  
    • Adam Coble
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:09pm

      I agree outstanding! I love how the Democrats manipulate the numbers to be all doom and gloom. Then say because it come from the CBO it is set in stone as fact.

      Report Post » ascoolone  
    • Mikeyyy
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:38pm

      I think they could replace it with a Bubble Gum wrapper, and it would be a vast improvement.

      Report Post »  
    • brotherhiram
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:41pm

      Perfect!!!
      lt might not get repealed this time around, but politicfs is a game of pressure, keep the pressure on the libs, there are moderate dems who won in conservative districts who promised to be moderates, let’s make sure they keep their promise.
      next step… stop funding it

      I am in the insurance world, not health, but people have to understand what insurance is, it‘s not a fund that was established to take care of the sick it’s a business that “wagers” on how many people in their books will need care over time.

      I know it sounds horrible but it is true, now I think it is crazy what this private health insurers are doing, don’t get me wrong, over the past 4 years I paid a little over 90k in health insurance premiums out of my pocket and in the past 4 years my wife my son and I billed the insurer a little over 12k so they are close to 80k in profit off of me.

      health insurance should be like car insurance, if you don’t put in claims your premium should go down if you do put claims in your premium should go up, but since insurance is the ultimate redistribution of wealth system, you can‘t expect not to pay anything if you don’t put claims in.

      health care reform should be the following:
      Charity care should be dedicated to US citizens and LEGAL residents only, and it should only cover 70% of the cost, 30% should be worked out between the provider and the patient, in form of payments with no or little interest.

      Illegals should have no access to heath care and if this is too cruel then they should bring in a document of origin and the institutions should be able to bill the country of origin for the service they are providing.

      enough is enough

      Report Post »  
    • Curator_JDR
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:49pm

      Defund! Get rid of the IRS agents for Obamacare. Introduce NEW health care legislation that lets us buy insurance across state lines. There lots this new congress can do.

      This new animated movie exposes the insanity of the Progressives with big time humor. It also gives Americans a new symbol (weapon) to use against Liberals.– the “head up the butt” person.

      http://www.marcrubin.com/hairmerica.ivnu

      Report Post » Curator_JDR  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:57pm

      The more gridlock, the better. If no more legislation passes in the next two years, then I for one consider the November election a resounding success.

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
    • BlueknightUSA
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:58pm

      The House should send a new bill on repael to the Senate each and every week until the end of the session…and then start it all over again the next session.

      Report Post » BlueknightUSA  
    • APatriotFirst
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 1:14pm

      Don’t get too happy yet, this will not get through the senate, so dead end

      Report Post »  
    • click4cheapandeasyweb
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 3:11pm

      It’s a start.

      Report Post »  
    • Margaret Thatcher
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:07pm

      Agreed!

      Report Post »  
    • abc
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:15pm

      CBO reports that repealing it will cost $230B per year! Where are the Tea Party members now?

      Report Post »  
    • jzs
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:20pm

      I’ll sure be glad when insurance companies can again void our coverage when we develop conditions too expensive to treat, or medical problems that cost our insurance companies more that our premiums will pay for. And I’m glad insurance companies can deny insurance to US citizens if they have preexisting medical conditions. This is America, land of the free, and insurance companies – companies making historically high profits – have the right to maximize their profits by revoking coverage, denying coverage, denying claims and otherwise deciding who lives and who dies.

      Report Post » jzs  
    • jzs
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:32pm

      Sorry guy, no repeal. Not going to happen. I‘m afraid for now you insurance company can’t drop your coverage if you develop a condition expensive to treat and can’t deny you coverage for preexisting conditions. And I’m afraid that millions of Americans who are not insured now will be, so they won’t have to go to emergency for treatment, something you and I pay for. On the one hand America will be taking care of our own, our children and our poor, but on the other we’ll be losing freedoms. I’m not sure what freedoms, but maybe all of you can explain that to me.

      Report Post » jzs  
    • dontbotherme
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:42pm

      Good!

      Report Post »  

Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In