House Votes To Put Obamacare On Hold For One Year

The Obama-worshiping mainstream media and the Obama administration appear to be frightened to allow Americans to look closely at the flaws in Obamacare.

On Saturday, House Republicans played their final hand in an attempt to stop the enactment of Obamacare this side of the possible government shutdown.

Their effort pushed the government towards the precipice of a partial shutdown, startling even the most experienced Washington politicians and pundits.

House Republicans effectively told President Obama that he must delay the Affordable Care Act for a year, even though the president and the Democratic-controlled Senate want it implemented now.

Democrats Favored Corporations Over American People

The Congress already agreed to delay the act for one year, but only for corporations, while the “kinks” in the law can be worked out.

So why don’t the American people get the same courtesy?

The Senate bill that was passed Friday would have kept the government operating for an additional 45 days, but it made no changes to the highly flawed health law. Rejecting the Senate bill, House Republicans prepared to pass their own bill, so they could toss the issue back in the lap of the Senate.

The Senate are scheduled to meet again 10 hours before the government shutdown is to begin. house Republicans expect most Senators will think long and hard before rubber-stamping a veto of the House bill, especially those senators running for re-election in 2014.

President Obama has already indicated that he will veto the House bill, if the Senate passes it, setting the stage for the partial government shutdown.

Senate Republicans Have Given Up Defunding Obamacare

Even though House Republicans are still slugging away, Senate Republicans have given up on defunding Obamacare. Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell issued a statement saying that Senate Republicans are not fighting a lost cause to defund Obamacare. “I don’t think it was a waste of time. The American people do fully understand that still, not a single Republican in the House or Senate favors this awful new law, and if they will send us enough additional new members to get rid of it, we will.”

The House proposal would provide the government with operating funds until December 15, while aiming to repeal a tax on medical devices that helps pay for Obamacare.

They expect the Senate to reject their bill, so on Sunday, they plan to pass a companion measure directing that U.S. military troops be paid on time despite any partial shutdown.

The Senate’s 54-44 vote Friday was predictably straight along party lines in favor of the bill. That preceeded a 79-19 vote to cut off a filibuster by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. All 52 Democrats, two independents and 25 of 44 Republicans voted in favor including Mitch McConnell and most of the GOP leadership.

What’s A Few More Trillion?

Many think that closing down the government will severely weaken Republicans as the battle shifts in mid-October to allow the government to borrow more money, even though the debt now is more than $16 trillion.

Even if the partial shutdown happens, critical services such patrolling the borders, inspecting meat and controlling air traffic would continue, as would Social Security benefits, Medicare and Medicaid health care programs for the elderly and poor. If the House bill passes, the military would be paid too.

Adding pressire to Obama and the Democrats, the health insurance exchanges are scheduled to open Tuesday, part of the all-Democratic forced march to universal healthcare.

The words of retiring Senator Max Backus (D-MT), who said “Obamacare is a train wreck waiting to happen,” are probably in the thoughts of Democrats up for reelection in 2014, who are wondering what the American people will think of them if they blast through Obamacare

Dwight L. Schwab Jr.
Dwight L. Schwab Jr. is a moderate conservative who looks at all sides of a story, then speaks his mind. He has written more than 3500 national political and foreign affairs columns. His BS in journalism from the University of Oregon, with minors in political science and American history stands him in good stead for his writing.

Publishing

Dwight has 30-years in the publishing industry, including ABC/Cap Cities and International Thomson. His first book, "Redistribution of Common Sense - Selective Commentaries on the Obama Administration 2009-2014," was published in July, 2014. "The Game Changer - America's Most Stunning Presidential Election in History," was published in April 2017.

Location

Dwight is a native of Portland, Oregon, and now a resident of the San Francisco Bay Area.
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