U.S. House Republicans Quietly Repeal Part Of Their Obamacare Repeal

Last month, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a measure that would defund Planned Parenthood and undo several parts of the Affordable Care Act. Today, House Republicans quietly repealed part of the repeal, on a party line 243-181 vote.

The Obamacare repeal and Planned Parenthood defunding measure was passed on October 23, 240-189. Rep. Matt Salmon (R-CD5) was the only Arizona member to cross party lines (one of 7 Republicans to vote "nay").  However, he announced that his no vote on the "Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015" (H.R.3762) was because he did not feel the repeal went far enough:

“Today, as millions of Americans are suffering under the weight of Obamacare’s oppressive mandates and increased premiums, the House had an opportunity to act boldly and fully repeal this terrible law. Many of us were elected on this very promise, but sadly, House leadership chose not to do this. For that reason, because this bill didn’t go far enough to keep our promise and rid Americans of the onerous effects of Obamacare, I chose not to support it.”

Today, as a one-sentence note slipped in at the bottom of a Rules resolution regarding other, unrelated bills, the House repealed its repeal of the Obamacare provision that "certain employers automatically enroll their employees in a health plan."

H.Res.526 was debated this morning, and the Democratic opposition did briefly note the repeal repeal, although both sides focused on the other aspects of the Rules resolution, and the fact that it was "yet another closed rule" that suppresses amendments and debate.

The repeal and defund measure still will contain Planned Parenthood defunding and repeals of the individual mandate, the employer mandate, the medical device excise tax and the tax on so-called "Cadillac plans". It will be re-sent to the Senate.




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