The House on Friday passed legislation that defunds ObamaCare but would keep the government running through mid-December.

The legislation was approved on a party-line 230-189 vote, with Rep. Scott Rigell Edward (Scott) Scott RigellEx-Rep. Scott Taylor to seek old Virginia seat GOP rushes to embrace Trump GOP lawmaker appears in Gary Johnson ad MORE (Va.) the only GOP "no" vote. Two Democrats voted for the measure: Reps. Jim Matheson James (Jim) David MathesonTrump EPA eases standards for coal ash disposal Utah redistricting reform measure likely to qualify for ballot Trump's budget targets affordable, reliable power MORE (Utah) and Mike McIntyre (N.C.).

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Passage of the bill sets up a showdown with the Senate and moves the two sides closer to a possible government shutdown Oct. 1.

The ObamaCare language is expected to be stripped from the bill in the Senate, setting up a critical week of negotiations next week. House Republicans have canceled a planned recess to return to Washington Wednesday, and their leaders have warned the House could be in session next weekend.



After the vote, nearly the entire House Republican conference crowded into the Rayburn Room off the House floor to demand that the Senate follow suit in defunding the healthcare law. The rally was a show of unity amid a series of fiscal battles that have deeply divided the conference.



The lawmakers gave a rousing cheer to Speaker John Boehner John Andrew BoehnerLongtime House parliamentarian to step down Five things we learned from this year's primaries Bad blood between Pelosi, Meadows complicates coronavirus talks MORE (R-Ohio) and Majority Leader Eric Cantor Eric Ivan CantorThe Hill's Campaign Report: Florida hangs in the balance Eric Cantor teams up with former rival Dave Brat in supporting GOP candidate in former district Bottom line MORE (R-Va.), just over a week after many of them rejected their initial plan to take a less aggressive approach to the healthcare law in the spending bill.



“It’s time for us to say no,” Boehner John Andrew BoehnerLongtime House parliamentarian to step down Five things we learned from this year's primaries Bad blood between Pelosi, Meadows complicates coronavirus talks MORE said of the law. “It’s time to stop this before it causes any more damage to American families and American businesses.”



“Our message to the United States Senate is very simple: The American people don’t want the government shut down, and they don’t want ObamaCare,” Boehner said as lawmakers cheered and applauded. “The House has listened to the American people. Now it’s time for the United States Senate to listen to them as well.”



Turning the event into an overt political rally, Cantor listed off the names of vulnerable Democratic senators up for reelection in 2014 and cited problems with the healthcare law in their states. The names he listed were Sens. Mark Pryor Mark Lunsford PryorCoronavirus poses risks for Trump in 2020 Tom Cotton's only Democratic rival quits race in Arkansas Medicaid rollback looms for GOP senators in 2020 MORE (Ark.), Kay Hagan Kay Ruthven HaganThe Hill's Campaign Report: Democratic Unity Taskforce unveils party platform recommendations Democrats awash with cash in battle for Senate The Hill's Campaign Report: Trump's job approval erodes among groups that powered his 2016 victory MORE (N.C.), Mary Landrieu Mary Loretta LandrieuBottom line A decade of making a difference: Senate Caucus on Foster Youth Congress needs to work to combat the poverty, abuse and neglect issues that children face MORE (La.) and Mark Begich Mark Peter BegichAlaska group backing independent candidate appears linked to Democrats Sullivan wins Alaska Senate GOP primary Alaska political mess has legislators divided over meeting place MORE (Alaska).



“We’re into this fight and we want the Senate to join us,” Cantor said.

Democrats and the White House responded by arguing Republicans would bear responsibility for a government shutdown.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest noted that senators from both parties had expressed concerns about tying ObamaCare defunding to the resolution to keep the government operating.

"I do think there is actually bipartisan agreement that the tactics we're seeing from congressional Republicans are bad for the country and are bad for the economy," said Earnest, who added that the last thing the country needed was "a self-inflicted crisis."

Republicans opposed to the ObamaCare defunding effort have warned that if the government does shut down, the strategy would make it easier for Democrats to blame Republicans. Some in both parties see a shutdown as the one thing that could lead Democrats to win a House majority next year.

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called the GOP bill a clear attempt by Republicans to bring the government to a halt.

“What is brought to the floor today is without a doubt … a measure designed to shut down government,” she said. “It could have no other intent. Its purpose is clear.

“It is a wolf in wolf's clothing.”