By Susan Ferrechio - washingtonexaminer.com
A day after Congress joined the bipartisan celebration of Osama bin Ladens death House Republicans returned to attacking their No. 1 domestic target -- the nations health care reform law.
Republicans on Tuesday set about undoing in a piecemeal fashion the massive insurance reform program they pledged to extinguish during the 2010 campaign.
Lawmakers offered legislation that would defund two key initiatives in the new law -- the state-run insurance exchanges and an expansion of school-based health centers. Republicans argued that the money the government planned to provide for these two programs would amount to a giant slush fund resulting in waste and unnecessary government interference in the health care market.
The bill to eliminate funding for the state-run exchanges expected to pass Tuesday would save $14 billion. Voiding funds for the construction and expansion of the health centers set for a vote Wednesday would save $150 million.
Republicans said allowing consumers to purchase insurance across state lines would more effectively lower health care costs than the exchanges which will be set up by the states by 2014 to provide cheaper insurance options for qualified buyers. The health care center funding does not pay for center staffing which the GOP said amounts to spending money without providing any new health care benefits.
We are addressing an issue that the American people said they wanted us to address Rep. David Dreier R-Calif. argued on the House floor. Our priority is to ensure that every American has access to affordable quality health care. That is something we want to make happen and I believe the legislation that is before us today will enhance our chance to do that as we seek to reduce the size and scope and control of this behemoth our federal government which is $14.3 trillion in debt.
The GOP earlier this year pushed through a bill to repeal the entire law but the Democratically led Senate and the Obama administration blocked it.
The latest Republican plan to fulfill their campaign promise is to kill the law by eliminating funding for individual provisions.
We felt very strongly the need to focus on some of the most flagrant examples of abuse Dreier said.
Democrats said the GOP bills aim to destroy the entire health care law by gutting its main components. The state-run exchanges they argued are to serve as a main pillar of the health care law by providing a place to find affordable insurance for millions of people who otherwise would not be able to obtain coverage such as those working for small businesses or people with pre-existing conditions.
The exchanges represent an opportunity for more competition and transparency in the marketplace that allows consumers to make a choice said Rep. Jared Polis D-Colo.
Democrats questioned the GOPs motives for defunding school health center construction which they said would help expand an existing program that provides a wide spectrum of health care for the needy.
Its health care they wouldnt receive otherwise said Rep. Donna Edwards D-Md. Or maybe they would receive it in an expensive emergency room in a crisis.
