The GOP tried to repeal Obamacare and defund Planned Parenthood again, on Groundhog day no less. The Republicans, however, were not able to rally the two-thirds support needed to overturn the veto. The 241-186 vote was the 63rd time the House has voted to overturn all or part of Obama’s signature healthcare law.
The vote came only a few hours after a meeting between the president, Paul Ryan, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. They met to talk about issues in which the president hopes the White House and Congress might be able to work together. The issues included criminal justice and mental health reform, the TPP, Puerto Rico's financial crisis, the opioid epidemic, the Zika virus and efforts to cure cancer.
The #Obamacare fight won’t end here. https://t.co/pMyPMTfFgk
— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) February 2, 2016
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters before the vote, “Republicans are poised to host another vote in the United States Congress today for the 60th time to repeal Obamacare. It’s almost like it’s Groundhog Day, except today it is actually Groundhog Day and they’re doing it again.”
He added, “So I’m not really sure that qualifies as the contours of a proactive legislative agenda but it does put some pressure on Speaker Ryan and Leader McConnell, and other Republicans in Congress, to lay out what it is exactly they support and try to find some common ground with the administration.”
Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, spoke to the Heritage Action, a tea party-allied organization earlier today, revealing his stance on the fight against Obamacare. “So we have to be straight with each other, and more importantly, we have to be straight with the American people. We can’t promise that we can repeal Obamacare when a guy with the last name Obama is president. All that does is set us up for failure . . . and disappointment . . . and recriminations.” he said.
Today the House considers a vote to override President's veto of a bill to repeal #Obamacare#OverridetheVetopic.twitter.com/tgSKq8M1Tz
— RepScottPerry (@RepScottPerry) February 2, 2016
-Bronte Price
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