US House to repeal 'Obamacare' law

US President Barack Obama

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/161030.html


The Republican-led US House of Representatives has voted YES to a bill repealing President Barack Obama's healthcare law signed last year.

On Wednesday, 245 lawmakers backed the repeal of President Obama's landmark healthcare reform law signed back when the Democrats controlled the House and Senate.

Republican leaders have reasoned their commitment to the bill as being part of an honoring act towards a campaign that helped them gain more control of the House and Senate last November, Reuters reported Thursday.

Even though the number of lawmakers backing the bill is enough to pass it, analysts maintain even if the bill makes it through, the US president has vowed to veto it.

The repeal bill describes the landmark overhaul of the country's healthcare system as being “job-killing.”

"Our pledge was to repeal 'Obamacare,' House Speaker John Boehner stated. "Why? Because it is going to increase spending, increase taxes, and destroy jobs in America."

However, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner stressed that repealing the law would damage the country' economy.

"Given where we are, we must do things that help bolster the recovery, and repealing the Affordable Care Act would be a step in the wrong direction," he noted.

The controversial $940-billion healthcare law, which aims to overhaul the US health-care system, promises healthcare reforms that would provide coverage to nearly 30 million American citizens who currently lack it. It also aims at barring insurance companies from denying coverage to people with pre-existing health conditions, reports say.

The bill is now set for the US Senate for a more crucial vote.