Senate Republican Mike Enzi has gotten the ball rolling today on repealing Obamacare in the Senate:
REUTERS – Republican U.S. Senator Mike Enzi introduced on Tuesday a resolution allowing for the repeal of President Barack Obama’s signature health insurance program, which provides coverage to millions of Americans, Enzi’s office said in a statement.
The move by the Senate’s budget committee chairman on the first day of the new Congress set in motion the Republican majority’s promise to repeal the 2010 Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, as its first major legislative item.
The Republicans are using a budget resolution to provide for Obamacare’s repeal, allowing them to act without any Democratic votes. Budget resolutions require a simple majority to pass in the Senate, instead of the 60 votes normally required to clear procedural hurdles. There are 52 Republicans in the 100-seat chamber.
The budget resolution contains so-called reconciliation instructions, directing committees to dismantle Obamacare as part of reconciling taxes and spending with the budget blueprint – and to report back to the budget committee by Jan. 27.
A Senate vote on the resolution could come next week, with action in the House of Representatives expected to follow. But the repeal process won’t be complete until the committees finish the reconciliation procedure and votes are taken on their work.
“These instructions to committees are provided to facilitate immediate action on repeal, with the intent of sending legislation to the new president’s desk as soon as possible,” the statement from Enzi’s office said.
I’m really glad they are using budget reconciliation to repeal this monstrosity. After all, that’s exactly what Democrats used to shove it down our throats in 2010.
And when they finally get ready to pass the repeal, Paul Ryan should lead a freedom march with House Republicans carrying a flag instead of a gavel, just like Pelosi did in 2010:
Or as another idea, Republicans could print out the Obamacare bill and use it to make a huge bonfire. I’d be fine with that!