The U.S. House this morning passed a budget resolution that removes funding for Obamcare, setting up a confrontation with the Democrat-led Senate and raising prospects of a government shutdown.
The vote was 230-189, largely on party lines.
Sen. Marco Rubio, who has joined Sens. Ted Cruz and Mike Lee in calls to defund the law, quickly issued a statement:
“The House voted today to follow the will of the American people and the Senate should now follow suit. Americans are struggling in an uncertain economy and ObamaCare is making their lives harder. Instead of throwing more money at ObamaCare, or threatening to shut down the government, President Obama and his allies in Congress should work with Republicans to stop ObamaCare from ruining people’s lives, incomes, health plans and doctor relationships.”
Rubio has employed an interesting rhetorical tactic. If Democrats and President Obama reject (and they will) the plan to defund the health care reform law, they are in favor of shutting down the government, not Republicans. But few Republicans outside the heated halls of Congress buy that logic. Jeb Bush said this week in Washington that it was “dicey” for the GOP to force a shutdown. Karl Rove echoed that.
Reaction from Florida House members: Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Panama City: “I do not want to see a government shutdown. Today’s vote is a decisive step forward in our fight to ensure that the federal government is properly funded and that all Americans, including our military, seniors and the truly vulnerable among us, continue to receive the vital services they expect and deserve. We’ve also ensured that our nation’s credit rating will be protected, while moving one step closer to a permanent delay and dismantling of government-run health care. It’s my hope that the Democrat-controlled Senate will now put politics aside and join the House in acting in the best interests of the American people.”
Click here for the Tampa Bay Times.
