The House passed legislation to repeal the Affordable Health Care Act today—also known as “Obamacare”—in a largely symbolic vote that went along party lines, but is not expected to get anywhere in the Senate.
The measure to repeal passed the House, 244-185.
No Republicans voted against repeal, and Democrats mostly voted along party lines, with 185 voting against repeal and 5 breaking party lines to vote for repeal.
Democrats voting for repeal were: Reps. Dan Boren (Okla.), Larry Kissell (N.C.), Jim Matheson (Utah), Mike McIntyre (N.C.) and Mike Ross (Ark.).
Both Reps. Matheson and Kissell previously voted against repeal but switched their votes today. Both will face tough reelection fights in their districts this fall.
Even if repeal were to pass repeal legislation in the Democratically controlled Senate, President Barack Obama would veto it, making repeal votes ahead of this year’s presidential election largely a show of support for or against the controversial legislation.
After the Supreme Court ruled the law was constitutional through Congress’ power to tax, opponents of the law have just one avenue of hope to stop the bill from being fully implemented, which is full repeal through the legislative branch and a President Mitt Romney one year from now.
Despite the Supreme Court’s recently ruling that Obamacare it a tax, Democrats have refused to admit the new healthcare law is in fact one of the largest tax increases in American history, preferring to call the law a “penalty” instead.
Republicans, who have been campaigning strongly against Obamacare, have pledged to repeal the law if they can retain the House and win back the Senate.
