By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
On Friday, January 8, 2015, President Obama’s vetoed a bill, HR3762, that would have dismantled the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (popularly known as Obamacare), and eliminated federal funding for the nation’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood.
Congressman Bradley Byrne (R-Montrose) said: “I am disappointed but not surprised that President Obama has chosen to put liberal special interest groups over the American people. Hardworking Americans have made clear that they do not want Obamacare, which has caused healthcare costs to increase all across the country. It is a shame the President refuses to swallow his pride and admit that this law is not working.”
Congressman Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) said, “Obamacare is a massive federal takeover of our health care industry that takes away choices from people and limits our freedom. What’s more, it has been a failure. When Obamacare was passed, the American people were told if they liked their doctor, they could keep their doctor. They were told that medical care costs would be cut. They were told that Obamacare would reduce the deficit. They were told that premium prices would drop. They were told that it would not fund abortion, nor force anyone to violate their conscience. We now know the opposite of all these things is true.”
Congresswoman Martha Roby (R-Montgomery) said, “This action puts accountability for this deceptive, costly healthcare law squarely on the president.”
Rep. Byrne said, “The silver lining here is that we now have a path forward to get rid of Obamacare and defund Planned Parenthood once a different President is in the White House. The American people have now seen the path toward two very different Americas, and voters will have a clear choice in November.”
Congressman Trey Gowdy (R-South Carolina) said in a statement, “HR3762 repealed major provisions of Obamacare and reduced the deficit by $516 billion over the next ten years. This repeal is necessary because Obamacare has failed to lower healthcare costs, led to increased deductibles, which have saddled many Americans with massive medical debts, and forced millions of Americans off of their health insurance plans, not living up to the President’s promise ‘if you like your health care plan, you can keep it.’”
Representative Gowdy continued, “Additionally, the bill stopped the horrific Planned Parenthood practices, which are not only barbaric, but may violate federal law. Taxpayers should not, in any circumstance, be forced to fund abortion providers. Speaker Ryan has stated the House will hold a vote to override the President’s veto. Beyond that vote, I remain committed to repealing Obamacare and ensuring Planned Parenthood does not receive federal funds for performing abortions.”
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin), “We have now shown that with a Republican president, there is a clear path to repealing Obamacare without 60 votes in the United States Senate. We are confronting the president with the hard, honest truth. Obamacare does not work. It has to go. Higher premiums, fewer choices, restricted access—these are not signs of success. These are signs of failure. And the American people deserve better.”
HR3762 was a budget “reconciliation” bill that would have repealed major components of Obamacare and placed a one-year moratorium on Planned Parenthood funding. Previous attempts to repeal Obamacare passed the Republican controlled US House of Representatives; but died in the Senate where Democrats retained control until last year and where the 60 vote threshold needed to cut off debate makes passing legislation without strong bipartisan support almost impossible. HR3762 used rules for budget reconciliation to avoid a filibuster and instead needed only a simple majority to pass.
