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.