Minutes after being sworn in as the new speaker of the House in that Republican-controlled chamber, John Boehner of Ohio announced plans to change Washington and repeal health care reform legislation passed last year:
"The people voted to end business as usual, and today we begin carrying out their instructions," said Boehner.
Boehner's ascension to speaker signals the start of a contentious period in Washington politics. Democrats have vowed to vigorously defend the health care law that they fought tooth and nail to pass.
"Most Americans don't like the health care bill," Rep. Eric Cantor said on CBS's "The Early Show." "They know that there's a better way, and we have committed to the people that have elected us to begin to work together across partisan lines to try and affect change that will actually improve the lives and deliver results for more Americans."
This step by Republicans is like the sign you see on some old rundown house that says: 'Beware of Dog.' It doesn't look like anyone is guarding the house, but you never know. Republicans are treading on dangerous ground.
Tweet
Despite not being popular, there are parts of the legislation that many Americans are happy to have, such as the extension of coverage for their children and the inability to deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions.
Democrats have pointed out that Republicans should stop wasting time "re-litigating partisan battles" and work toward helping improve the country's economy.
This is just for show because even if the bill to repeal the law passes in the House, it'll never see the light of day in the still Democratically controlled Senate.
Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat from Ohio, called any effort to repeal health care reform "a colossal waste of time" and accused the Republicans of "just playing politics," Politico reported.
In a letter to Congress, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner urged for the health care law to be left alone.
"If the Affordable Care Act were repealed as some have proposed, the individuals we have heard from plus the millions of families, seniors, other individuals and small businesses already helped would lose this support and these protections," they wrote.
Republicans had a chance to put their ideas into the law and help shape it, but they chose to oppose it for purely political purposes.
The opposition they mounted to the law along with the lies they spread about it are responsible for their recent election victories. By pushing to repeal the law, Republicans are playing politics with people's lives and health.
Unfortunately, when it comes to Washington politicians, there's nothing new about that.
22-Dec-10 - Round-the-way homeboy Antoine Dodson, whose "Bed Intruder" song went viral over the Internet earlier this year, is back with a web spoof on Santa.
21-Dec-10 - In 2010, we lost notable musical icons and civil rights trailblazers. Famous actors and everyday people caught in the sting of potential police abuses also passed away.
Michelle Obama Attends Beyonce Concert
7 Weird Ways To Bug-Proof Your Picnic
Comments: (1)
Add a comment
By: alie on 1/07/2011 11:01AM
One racist party hands over to another racist party and so the show goes on>>>>>>>>>>>and on>>>>>>>>>>>>
Reply to this Comment | Report This