John Boehner, the incoming Republican majority leader, and the House Republicans in the 112th Congress swiftly honored a campaign pledge, and passed legislation to repeal the health care overhaul. On Wednesday evening, January 19, 2011, by a vote of 245 to 189, the Republicans let it be known to the country that they mean business. Some political experts interpret this as a symbolic act but on many different levels this bill is being challenged.
On this important vote in the House, there were three Democrats that sided with the Republicans, and to defeat a veto by the President in the House is needed 280 votes. The Republicans in all probability cannot stop a presidential veto, but in committees they can stop funding for Health Care initiatives. They have the ability to bring things to a standstill in the House, and John Boehner is going to do everything possible to repeal the bill.
Working on the state level to repeal the Health Care Bill, 26 states have filed lawsuits to challenge the constitutionality of the law, because it violates people's rights by forcing them to buy health insurance. Two federal judges have ruled and upheld the law requirements, but in Virginia the federal judge has ruled that the insurance-purchase mandate was unconstitutional.
In Florida, former Republican Attorney General Bill McCollum filed the lawsuit just minutes after President Obama signed the 10 year, $938 billion health care bill into law in March 2010. Joining the suit was the nation's most influential small business lobby, the National Federation of Independent Business. There are major lobbying groups and a broad cross-section of state Attorney Generals who are challenging the constitutionality of the law.
There is also a major petition campaign spearheaded by former Governor Huckabee and conservative Republicans to get the overhaul repealed. The anger that was prevalent over the summer and during the election has turned the repeal of the Health Care Bill into a statement of protest.
Many of the conservative Americans believe that the Health Care Bill is a "job-crushing, socialist plan" that will leave citizens powerless. The conservatives are drawing a line in the sand and they think the entire bill is wrong for America.
No matter what side of the fence you are on considering health care, we all agree that the present system is broken. All of the doctors, medical personnel, politicians, and citizens acknowledge that the cost keeps going up. President Obama's attempt to fix the health care system is far reaching and there will be many problems.
Nevertheless there are certain components in the bill that are helping people save money now and receive service, where they were denied coverage. The five million Americans who were denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions are now covered. Youth who were in college can stay with their parents' insurance until they are 25. Children are now required under the law to receive health care and are benefiting from President Obama's work.
The Democrats in the Senate have made it clear that they are not going to consider the repeal initiative and they have the majority. It would take 67 Senators to repeal a president's veto, but they support the Health Care overhaul.
At the end of the day the Republicans can stir up controversy and set the groundwork for the 2012 election. Their goal is to win back a majority in the Senate and get a Republican voted in as president.
There is one more challenge that the Republicans can use to repeal the Health Care Bill and that is the Supreme Court. The lawsuits in the states are destined to go to the Supreme Court, and if the law is declared unconstitutional, the government may be forced to stop implementing certain portions of the law.
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