Rep. Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma). Photo from Flickr
The House voted 239 to 186 on Tuesday to repeal the Affordable Care Act, the landmark law that permanently authorized the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. The roll call was partisan -- every Republican except three voted to pass H.R.596. Included were the only two enrolled tribal members in Congress -- Rep. Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma), a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, and Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. The vote marked the 56th time that Republicans have tried to repeal the law. President Barack Obama once again questioned the effort. “I’ve asked this question before. Why is it that this would be at the top of their agenda?” Obama said at a roundtable with Americans who have benefited from the law. “It was maybe plausible to be against the Affordable Care Act before it was implemented. But now it has been implemented and it is working.” Republicans in the Senate plan to push for repeal. If they are able to pass the measure, Obama is expected to veto it. Inclusion of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act in the law was a major achievement because the Bush administration held up passage of the measure for several years. Republican lawmakers also raised objections to the bill and it took 10 years to reauthorize the law due to the opposition. Get the Story:
Obama highlights health law; says repeal makes ‘no sense’ (AP 2/3)
House G.O.P. Again Votes to Repeal Health Care Law (The New York Times 2/4) An Opinion:
Dana Milbank: With latest Obamacare repeal vote, GOP sets ‘record’ for futility (The Washington Post 2/4)
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