House repeals healthcare reform, unlikely to go further
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The vote has been deemed “symbolic” due to the unlikelihood that the Senate will even take up the repeal, given a lack of support. Only three Democrats voted for the repeal.
However, representatives in the new Republican-led House expressed a desire to make good on their campaign promises.
“Over the last two years, the American people have been discussing the issue of healthcare. And the number one concern for the American people is the cost of healthcare – and yet what we see with ObamaCare is an increase in costs to the American people,” said Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio). “We’ve listened to the American people ... We came out with our Pledge to America and our pledge was to repeal ObamaCare.”
From the floor of the House, Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said that “both parties care deeply about healthcare. Likewise, Republicans have rejected the status quo. We simply disagree with our counterparts on the other side of the aisle that excessive government regulation and sweeping mandates on individuals and businesses are the right way to go about effecting the reforms Americans want.”
Cantor is urging the Senate to “hold a vote," but that probability is still unclear. Therefore, the PPACA remains law.