The House of Representatives Wednesday approved, on a near party line 245-189 vote, legislation to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Only three Democrats backed the repeal, a smaller number than Republicans had predicted.
The vote on the measure, H.R. 2, which was introduced by Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., included 181 cosponsors. The number of cosponsors, say reports, is largely emblematic of the GOP’s many campaign promises made during the 2010 congressional elections to beef up opposition to the law.
The repeal bill will now be sent to the Senate, where, say pundits from both political parties, its prospects appear to be slim.
On some of the law’s provisions, however, Republicans and Democrats are united. For example, both parties have asked to strip a provision that requires employers to furnish 1099 tax reporting statements if they conduct business with a corporate vendor starting in 2012 in the amount greater than $600.
The latest move by Republicans toward rolling back the PPACA is significant, as it officially represents the GOP's ability to keep the law front and center.
“The Big ’I’ is grateful to the House of Representatives for passing H.R. 2, the repeal of the PPACA,” says Bob Rusbuldt, Big “I” president & CEO. “Our members are both sellers and consumers of health insurance, and are therefore being hit twofold by the many negative consequences of the new health care law.”
Charles Symington, Big “I” SVP of government affairs, said that his organization strongly urges the Senate to follow the House’s action, but recognizes the difficulty ahead in passing a full repeal in the Senate and overriding an expected presidential veto.
“We also urge Congress to quickly fix the most onerous of the new law’s provisions,” said Symington. “Some of the provisions that have taken effect, such as the Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) regulation, are so damaging that they are already hurting our fragile economy and costing jobs.”
