House condemns Trump’s latest anti-ObamaCare push

The House on Wednesday passed a resolution condemning the Trump administration’s push to have the courts invalidate ObamaCare.  

Eight Republicans joined all but one Democrat in voting for the measure, which passed 240-186.

GOP Reps. Elise Stefanik (N.Y.), John Katko (N.Y.), Chris Smith (N.J.), Tom Reed (N.Y.), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.), Fred Upton (Mich.), Pete Stauber (Minn.) and Denver Riggleman (Va.) voted in favor of the resolution. Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R-Ohio) voted present. 

{mosads}Democratic Rep. Collin Peterson (Minn.) voted with Republicans against the measure. 

Its passage comes shortly after the Department of Justice announced it is siding with a district court’s ruling that the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional — amping up the administration’s battle against former President Obama’s landmark health care legislation.  

The nonbinding resolution — led by freshman Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas) — notes former Attorney General Jeff Sessions had said the Justice Department “would not defend the constitutionality of the minimum essential coverage provision” and “would argue that provisions protecting individuals with pre-existing conditions are inseverable from the minimum essential coverage provision and should be invalidated.”

The Trump administration’s latest push to nix ObamaCare sparked sharp criticism from Democrats and many Republicans.

“I am proud to lead the charge on this resolution condemning the administration’s attacks on Americans’ — on Americans’ health care in federal court. With the support of so many of my colleagues, this resolution puts the United States Congress on the record as being on the side of the people as this administration seeks to tear down our health care system,” Allred said on the floor ahead of the vote. “This congress will not stand by while cynical and partisan attacks on our health care system and that of hardworking Americans.”

The administration’s decision has caused consternation among Republicans, many of whom consider health care the issue that cost the party its House majority in last year’s midterm elections. Some members have expressed concerns over the timing of the push, and President Trump’s assertion on social media that the party “will be known as the Party of Great [health care]” after the Republican-controlled 115th Congress failed to produce an alternative to ObamaCare that could pass both chambers.

But other GOP lawmakers argued Democrats should take the opportunity to work across the aisle on a health-care plan that can garner bipartisan support.

“The resolution before us is this week’s Democrat dosage of attack on the president. It doesn’t do a darn thing to protect people with pre-existing conditions,” Energy and Commerce Committee ranking member Greg Walden (R-Ore.) said on the House floor, calling on Democrats to bring up a Republican-backed measure aimed at protecting patients with pre-existing conditions.

“Republicans and Democrats can get this done. Why aren’t we voting on that today?  Instead Democrats have rushed a resolution to the floor that’s never had a hearing before the Energy and Commerce Committee. We only got to see it for the first time last Friday. It’s a political screed, not a public policy proposal.”

The resolution is not expected to see any movement in the GOP-controlled Senate.