GOP to Take Up Health Care Repeal in First Week of Session

As one of their first orders of business in the 112th Congress, Republicans plan to introduce and vote on a measure to repeal the health care reform law championed by Democrats and President Barack Obama last year.

In contrast to the health care law’s 2,000-page bulk, the GOP’s measure (PDF download) is two pages and would repeal “the job-killing health care law and health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.”

Republicans also intend to introduce a resolution (PDF download) laying the groundwork for a separate, GOP-crafted health care reform law. Among other provisions, it supports reforms that “preserve a patient’s ability to keep his or her health plan if he or she likes it,” “eliminate duplicative government programs and wasteful spending,” and “prohibit taxpayer funding of abortions.”

Top GOP lawmakers have scheduled a vote on the repeal for Jan. 12. The new Congress convenes today.

Republicans in North Carolina’s congressional delegation praised the move as a fulfillment of campaign promises from the 2010 election, when the GOP gained a historic 63 seats in the U.S. House and six seats in the U.S. Senate.

“We should never have passed the bill to begin with,” said Rep. Walter B. Jones, R-3rd, who favors repeal. “We can’t afford it. It is an over-reach into the lives of many people.”

Rep. Virginia Foxx, a Republican representing the 5th Congressional District, said in a statement e-mailed to Carolina Journal that voters have made it clear they don’t like the health care law.

“The new House majority is acting on our constituents’ wishes by repealing this flawed legislation and replacing it with health care reform that will actually lower costs and improve our healthcare system,” she said.

Republican Rep. Sue Myrick of the 9th Congressional District said that the 2010 elections were a mandate from the American people to repeal Obama’s health care law and replace it with a less intrusive option. “Through an open process, and with the input of the American people, that’s exactly what we are trying to do,” she said.

As for North Carolina’s self-described centrist Democrats, Rep. Heath Shuler, D-11th, notes that he voted against the health care bill but has no intention of backing its repeal.

“I did not support the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act because it was going to hurt seniors by cutting half a trillion in Medicare, and it did nothing to address the rising cost of health care,” Shuler said in an e-mail. “That said, there are some very good things in this bill that have already become law: Parents can keep their kids on their insurance till they’re 26, it’s helping to close the donut hole for seniors, and children with pre-existing conditions can no longer be denied access to coverage. I think it is not just wrong, but immoral to take those things away.”

The Hill newspaper in Washington reports McIntyre — who also voted against the bill in March — is “likely” to back repeal, though the publication cites no new information. The 7th District Democrat endorsed repealing the law in March.

Meantime, spokesmen for 8th District Rep. Larry Kissell — another “no” vote on the health-care law — did not return messages Tuesday asking how he would vote on the repeal measure.

Republicans in the House have a comfortable enough majority to pass the repeal, but it’s expected to meet stiffer resistance in the Senate, where Democrats maintain a 53-47 majority. In a letter to Speaker-elect John Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Harry and other top Democrats urged House Republicans to scuttle plans to repeal the reforms.

“We urge you to consider the unintended consequences that the law’s repeal would have on a number of popular consumer protections that help middle class Americans,” the senators wrote. “The ‘donut hole’ fix is just one measure that would be threatened by a repeal effort. Taking this benefit away from seniors would be irresponsible and reckless at a time when it is becoming harder and harder for seniors to afford a healthy retirement.”

Opposition to the health care law among likely voters stands at 60 percent, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll from late December. Thirty-eight percent of likely voters oppose a repeal.

David N. Bass is an associate editor of Carolina Journal.