House Votes 245-189 To Repeal Affordable Care Act

In a move that surprises nobody, the House voted today to repeal last year's health care reform law. Now it goes to the Senate where it will die.

Doug Mataconis · · 39 comments

Not surprising anyone, the House late today passed a bill to repeal the health care reform law that became law less than a year ago:

The House on Wednesday evening passed a bill that would repeal the national health care overhaul, approving the measure on a largely party-line vote. The repeal bill passed 245 to 189, with three Democrats – Reps. Mike Ross (Ark.), Dan Boren (Ind.) and Mike McIntyre (N.C.) – joining Republicans in backing the measure. The three were among the four Democrats who voted earlier this month to advance the measure. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), who remains in serious condition following this month’s mass shooting in Tucson, was the only lawmaker not voting. The bill’s passage came after Democrats unsuccessfully staged an eleventh-hour vote in an effort to derail the Republican-sponsored measure. The Democratic move, which would have made the repeal effort ineffective unless a majority of lawmakers gave up their federal health care benefits within 30 days of the bill’s passage, fell short in the GOP-led House. While the repeal passed the House, ultimately, it is expected to fail.

Harry Reid has already said that he does not intend to bring the bill up for a vote, which has led to the amusing spectacle of Republicans complaining about the Senate blocking legislation:

House Republicans’ effort to push a wholesale repeal of President Barack Obama’s signature health care reform legislation appears destined to hit a legislative brick wall immediately after its passage in the lower chamber this afternoon. But new Majority Leader Eric Cantor is still challenging Democrats in the Senate to bring the measure up for consideration, daring Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid: “Let’s see the votes!” “I think the American people deserve to see a vote in the Senate, and the Senate ought not be a place where legislation goes into a dead end,” Cantor told reporters Wednesday.

Congressman Cantor, perhaps you need to have a talk with your fellow Republicans in the Senate.

Anyway, the House GOP can now say it has fulfilled a campaign promise. Let’s see some real work now.