US House Votes 245-189 to Repeal Obamacare, More Votes than the 219 that Passed Obamacare

The US House of Representatives voted 245 – 189 to repeal Obamacare. Republicans and 3 Democrats made good on a GOP campaign promise that swept them into office following the 2010 midterm elections. The repeal legislation gained more votes than did the original passage of Obamacare which only had 219 votes. Three Democrats, Boren (OK), Mike Ross (AR) and Mike McIntyre (NC) crossed party lines and voted for the repeal. The full vote can be seen HERE.

Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said the healthcare law on the books would increase spending, raise taxes and eliminate jobs.

“Repeal means paving the way for better solutions that will lower the costs without destroying jobs or bankrupting our government,” Boehner said in remarks on the floor before the vote.

“Let’s stop payment on this check before it can destroy more jobs or put us into a deeper hole.”

As stated at the American Spectator, although the House vote to repeal Obamacare may not go much further as the Democrat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will never allow this to go to a vote, even after the challenger set forth by GOP House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, and Obama would certainly veto the bill, the House repeal passage has significant political ramifications. 

At the same time, there were 13 Democrats who voted against the original health care bill who are still in the House, meaning that Republicans can now paint the 10 who didn’t vote for repeal as supporters of the law.

Also aptly pointed out by The Other McCain, “10 Democrats who voted ‘no’ on passage in 2009 also voted against repeal, which gives the GOP ammunition against them in the next election cycle: If you wouldn’t vote to pass it, why won’t you vote to repeal it?”

 The vote for Obamacare against the will of the people caused great pain for Democrats in the 2010 elections and appears will be a political hot potato for them in 2012 as well. In the 2010 campaign cycle Democrats ran from the President on this issue. What is in store for them in 2012 to defend their vote, or lack thereof.