It only took 62 tries, but on Wednesday the House finally captured its great white whale. After clearing the Senate last month through a budget procedure called reconciliation, on Wednesday a bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act passed 240 to 181 in the House, with one Democrat supporting it and three Republicans opposing it. Now legislation that repeals Obamacare will finally end up on the president’s desk — and he will promptly veto it.
Congressional Republicans won’t have enough votes to override the eighth veto of Obama’s presidency, but House Speaker Paul Ryan explained this is still a very important moment for the party. “How many times have we been saying we want to put bills on his desk that say who we are and what we believe versus what he believes, that he will veto?” he said Tuesday night on Fox News.
Okay, noted: Republicans are not fans of the Affordable Care Act. But can someone elaborate on why the GOP is so excited about a law that will never be enacted? “The good news is, with this reconciliation bill, there will finally be some clarity,” said Representative Trent Franks. “The president will very glibly veto it. But at least then it will be on him and everybody will know it.” Ah, so this will finally let voters know that if they don’t like Obamacare, they should blame the guy who’s name is synonymous with the law.
