Washington (CNN) - Every Republican in the Senate now appears ready to revoke President Obama's signature health care law. This comes as a federal judge, in Florida, strikes down key parts of the law as unconstitutional.
The GOP holds 47 seats in the Senate.
According to Sen. Jim DeMint's office, 45 of them will co-sponsor the South Carolina Republican's legislation – introduced last week - to fully repeal the health law. Republicans are "standing with the American people who are demanding we repeal this government takeover of health care," DeMint said at the time.
DeMint's office told CNN it did not yet have confirmation that Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran would sign on. But CNN contacted Cochran's office and confirmed that he would.
Chris Gallegos, a spokesman for Cochran, explained that the senator's legislative staff conducts a bill review first – before asking the senator whether or not to co-sponsor a bill.
"That process is going on in our office right now," Gallegos said. "We expect the senator to co-sponsor the DeMint bill."
Based on these numbers, that would mean that all of the Republican senators are now on board with the plan to repeal the health care law.
The intentions of some newly-elected GOP senators, who enjoy Tea Party support, are of little surprise. Marco Rubio of Florida, Mike Lee of Utah, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Rand Paul of Kentucky have all denounced the health care law.
Some names that may stand out to some are moderate Republicans Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, both of Maine, and Scott Brown of Massachusetts. However, all three voted against the law's passage.
President Obama recently defended the law after the House voted to repeal it in January.
"I'm not willing to refight the battles of the last two years," the president said at a Families USA's Health Action Conference in Washington, on Friday. But the president has acknowledged he is open to ideas on how to improve the law.
Jon Summers, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, harshly denounced Republican efforts.
"What they are touting is their plan to raise taxes on small business, charge seniors more for prescription drugs, and increase the deficit," Summers said.
"We are happy to work with Republicans to improve the law, but we will not be part of their effort to stick it to consumers," he added.
Many Republicans acknowledge that their efforts to repeal the health care law could likely fail. They do not have enough votes to overcome a likely wall of Democratic opposition in the Senate. And, in the unlikely impossibility a GOP repeal bill passed the Senate, President Obama has the power to veto it.
From CNN Politics
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Why are they wasting taxpayer time? A growing majority of the people are seeing the benefits of the Affordable Care Act. Republicans are so out of touch.
Another political stunt by the Republicans. When will they put the peoples interest ahead of their political aspirations. What a joke they have made of representing the people of this country.
The Republicans love to yammer on about "the will of the people," and yet in 2008 when the American people overwhelmingly voted for not only President Obama, but put majorities of Democrats in the House and Senate – IN LARGE PART BECAUSE OF THE PLEDGE TO ENACT REAL HEALTH CARE REFORM – the Republicans actively thwarted the will of the people by blocking anything and everything that President Obama and the Democrats tried to do for the American people.
The Republicans represent their corporate donors and other wealthy lackeys. This health care reform provides real benefits to average Americans who can now keep their kids on their policies until they are 26 (no small potatoes in this economy); who will not be dropped from their health insurance policies or denied treatment when they get sick; and who will not be denied coverage for a pre-existing condition or if they should have a special-needs child.
The Republicans are despicable – and only a fool believes they give a rat's behind about anyone except themselves and their fat-cat donors!
well, the mandate is illegal.
My name says it all. Demint wants to repeal the entire bill. Even the parts majority of people love. So what does he plan to replace the bill with? Nothing! If the bill is repealed, who will pay back the money that has already been sent out? They don't have an answer for that question.
Are all these Reps ready to give up their healthcare that our taxes are paying for. Not likely!!! I think recent polls do not show that a big majority of voters want the bill repealed. Now that people are learning more details I believe the numbers are fairly close.
as a long time republican voter i am appalled with the gop support of corporate extortion
It appears only the Republicans care about the keeping their sworn oath of office to defend and protect the Constitution of the United States. Any legislator that abrogates that oath MUST BE REMOVED FROM OFFICE. If they cannot be recalled then they MUST be voted out of office as they cannot be trusted with the powers they have been granted by the people of the country. The same goes for the socialist in the Whitehouse.
that's great, it still won't go past the senate...and if (GoD forbid) it did get past the Senate, It won't get past The President.
This is a purely symbolic act with no real effect.
What about the economy?
What about JOBS?!?
What about getting the un-employed back to work?
What are Senate Republicans doing to help the guy who is struggling
REPEALING HEALTHCARE REFORM DOES NOT HELP THE GUY WHO IS STRUGGLING
Do you even care?
What's REALLY going on?
the gop constantly lies to american people to support corporate profits and uses fear and intimidation scare seniors
And yet, Fox Lite, acts as though this fact was newsworthy?
Most folks knew this already, knowing that the stated GOP agenda is for "America to fail"!
they were also eager to do the same with the civil rights bill back in 1965.
the only way to fix our political process is to get the biig money out of it
Where are the jobs? Instead of fighting yesterday battle lets make the legislation better. Show the American people how much is cost based on CBO numbers.
Oh really? Wow. They all voted against it the first time, why would this be an item of news?
The Democrats better look hard at this and not sign off on it just to help two races the Africans Americans and the Illegals. They don't even pay for health care now. You Democrats jobs are on a pedestal now, so think hard before you cast your vote. Obama is ghoing down in 2012 along with a whole bunch of you. Do you want to be in that bunch.
Heckuva job, Barry! Two years worth of his 4 year administration has just been struck down by the courts. So let's see now....two plus years in office and what has he accomplished?.....oh wait, I know........nothing at all. Failure.
Those who refuse to purchase health care insurance should be banned/turned away from emergency rooms when they show uo ill. I personally don't want to help pay for the care they get.
Sooooo the Republicans are spending money to repeal the bill ...,which has already passed into law,....on.....principle? And they are fully aware this will waste time and money and that these efforts will most likely fail...and ...they believe this is what the American people want??? ....ummmm okaaaaay... hmmm And who voted these nuts in again???
$top wa$ting my money, Republican$. Back legi$lation that ha$ a chance in hell of pa$$ing. Do your job$.
We need a vote in the Senate as it will be instructive in 2012 election as to which Democrats vote against the repeal. There are a bunch of Democratic Senators in Red States up for re-election in 2012 and voters want to know where they stand.
Of course, what did you expect? Republicans are always willing to cut taxes for the wealthy at the expense of the middle class, cut benefits for the middle class in order to help insurance and pharmaceutical companies, violate personal constitutional rights, while giving constitutional privileges to corporations, and – in case you don't recall their mantra – "outsourcing is GOOD for America." But the same fools in this country who are hurt the most by their policies continue to vote for them as long as they wave the flag and thump the Bible!
These Republicans have been ready to strike it down all along. They represent the rich and the corporations...they certainly don't represent me or average Americans.
Health reform has not been struck down by courts. Once again for those who do not read, 14 chose not to hear it, 2 voted in favor and 2 voted against. As for republicans in the senate, I hope Harry does not give the chance to exercise their stupidity.
Just keep at it Republicans....2012 is going to leave you bruised and bleeding. Most Americans are sick and tired of your pandering to big business and their lobbyist. The Health care reform is helping middle class Americans and we will be *&%^ if you are going to take us backward.
JOBs, JOBs, JOBs!!!! I see they forgot those words very quickly. I see another CHANGE coming in 2012 in both Congress and Senate. Enjoy the majority while you can Boehner...
Yet again liberals LIE.
So this is the job creation that republican promised?
They won't need to repeal it if the SCOTUS takes it down. What we then can have is a civilized , NOT BEHIND DOORS, debate about sensible reform and not a rehash of the UK system that they are currently abandoning because they've run out of money. Maybe they'll even come up with something that actually lowers costs and fraud rather than merely promising that it will.
So Rickster. look at the economy the last 3 quarters? All growth quarters. Yup, your'e right, nothing. Just because you are too blind to see the truth don't assume the rest of us want to be that blind.
lol FLORIDA RULES. We in Florida stuck the finger at OBAMACARE. REPEAL THIS LAW
VOTE REPUBLICAN !
Every poll taken say America if in favour of health care repeal over %60
Proud to be a florida Republican now
Thanks to this health care law im changeing my vote from
Obama 2008
TO
REPUBLICAN 2012
If health care is repealed by the GOP, I want all the GOP to give up their health care to show solidarity with all the people that will loose their coverage because of them
Protect and Defend,
So, only the right-wing has the right to free speech? No one has passed laws or asked you to not express your views. That was the way of the Bush administration, where they outed an active intelligence agent because her husband spoke the truth. But yeah your first ammendment rights are under siege! Watch out!
Fascism is a form of socialism, so your name says something about you alright. NAZI stands for National Socialist Workers Party, so, no, you cannot pin that one on our side either. I think it is a case of projection.
47 dopes all in a row..... BIG WOO. You still can't repeal the health law....
start over and do it right... get everyone on board this time not just the democrats...
Stupid liberals and their endless comparisons to auto insurance! You are not FORCED to buy auto insurance UNLESS YOU DRIVE. The insurance is to protect OTHERS from you. You can optionally chose to protect your vehicle, unless the bank owns it.
The correct comparison to Obamacare is that states can force EVERYBODY to buy car insurance whether you drive or NOT! Because using the same logic, you never know when you may need to drive a car, so just in case you do, you ARE REQUIRED TO BUY CAR INSURANCE AND HAVE IT AT ALL TIMES. Promises to never drive or turn in your drivers license matter not. GET IT DUMMIES???
lets repeal healthcare and when the hospitals have patients that come to there door steps for treatment they should leave them there to die you can't have it both ways and if they are forced to take care of these people who are uninsured then they should file a law suit against the government for forcing them to take care of them as far as I am concern I won't buy healthcare insurance save my money and when I do get sick I will shop overseas do you honestly think that in the next ten years or so that countries like india,north korea,china,and many many more countries healthcare systems won't be up to are standards and the the healthcare systems will go broke and we can throw that to the waste side like we did manufacturing
ObamaCare needs to go. We can do better. Future Americans deserve better from us than ObamaCare. This is not about access to insurance coverage. This is about doing the right way, not the way ObamaCare was slapped together... one special interest group at a time.
Dear Patriots salute the flag! and traitors dont. I am tired of your attacks on democrats and on Obama. People who salute the flag but do not care for the people are not patriots. A real patriot supports their country but not as an abstract concept but for the people who comprise it and the values that go with it. I think our constitution, our judeo-christian values are about Americans standing together helping one another. Health care for all is a necessity. If you ask a GOP one on one, they will admit that health care reform is needed not just for the people but for the health of our economy. This attack on the health care is all about politics and all about them posturing to appease their base. This is them positioning themselves for 2012.
Why doesn't the GOP stop this charade and work with the administration to improve the law and focus on their other mantra "Jobs, Jobs, Jobs".
Republicans – fight to save the unborn but let 44,000 of us die every year due to lack of health insurance or under-insurance. I vote we replace the elephant symbol with a pig.
I laugh when I read liberals crowing about 'jobs' , 'unemployment' and the 'waste of tax payer money' .
Your destruction as a political movement has only just begun. Save your strength liberals. You will be treated to the systematic disassembly of your failed "president" over the next two years. There will be nothing left of Barry Soetoro or your fairy tale movement.
Your pain brings me great pleasure....
@ Rickster:
What about Wall Street reform? What about saving millions of jobs in the Midwest with the bailouts? Its not about staying popular, its making the tough calls. 63 Dems in the House lost their jobs over a vote that took real courage, not some idiotic exercise designed to placate the super-lazy conservatives who seems to feel everything is free if the mandate comes from a boardroom instead of DC.
What is Bush's legacy? 2 wars, a crashed economy, thousands of dead soldiers and civilians and a scandal-ridden GOP filled with no-bid contracts and borrowing from China to pay for tax breaks for the Koch brothers. Thats's right, I really want to go back to that.
Some people profess to be patriots, but sadly, are merely lunatics.
The President will veto the bill!
47 isn't even enough to bring it to the floor.
The real question CNN is, how many DEMOCRATS will vote to repeal ???? We may not know because Sen Reid won't allow it to come to a vote. The writing is already on the wall for the bill. It will go to the Supreme Court and the part about forcing people to buy insurance will be struck down, then we will need to start over with a real BI-PARTISAN plan.
Notice all the republican plans for health reform? Me either.
47 votes means nothing in the Senate, and is way short of a veto-proof majority. Yet another stunt by the GOP, conveniently wasting time that could be spent on important issues like economic recovery and job creation. As the President said in the SOTU, you want to cut costs, repeal the tax cuts you just extended . . . . .
Protect and Defend Freedom of Speech in the USA – Who pays the bills for every people whose life is saved in the ER and afterwards discovers that he or whe will NEVER EVER be able to pay the bill?
Yes, the comparison with auto insurance is faulty...
BIG NEWS.
But the ER fact happens every single day, and if by ANY chance a doctor in an ER comes and says 'I won't gonna save this man/woman/child's life because, obviously, he/she/the parents won't gonna be able to pay the bill' the doctor WILL GO TO JAIL (even if the patient's life is saved). SO SOMEBODY ENDS UP PAYING THAT BILL.
Guess who?
I thought the main focus would be "jobs jobs jobs" sure! I'm predicting the dems will win back both house and senate in 2012 an of course President Obama will be a 2nd termer. The Repubs will still be talking about Health care reform in 2012, Wow! "the more things change the more they stay the same".
Next stop SCOTUS. Odds are 5-4 Obamacare struck down
Lets do it. The law has nothing to do with improving health care or lowering costs for the honest, hardworking American taxpayer, just a massive classic democrat liberal wealth transfer plan and is unconstitutional. All this idiocy does is make easier to buy illegal drugs for Obama supporters.
I cannot bear to read any more comments without addressing the idiotic statements comparing being forced to pay auto insurance and being forced to pay healthcare insurance. The only auto insurance you are required to have is liability. This protects victims. If a bank requires you to have collision insurance, it is to protect their money. Healthcare insurance is for you or your dependents. Your health insurance does not insure your victims or your bank.
Florida RULES – Score 2 for the ACA, 2 against and 10+ that said 'case dismissed' or 'it is NOT my business to make a decision about that'. In the end, it'll be the SCOTUS that WILL decide about that provision. Scalia's vote is way too obvious, but the other 10 are not.
Patriots Salute the Flag! Traitors don't!!!
Why are you so divisive? Why do you (honestly?) thinks that African Americans are lazybones? By the way, what did you meant with comparising illegals (that came from all continents not just below the southern border) with a single 'race'? Are you THAT misinformed?
There are patriots and patriots, all salute the flag, and some put shame upon it... like you dude.
So the GOP want to repeal the law based on some notion that Americans want it done, but I beg to differ. Mind you will the bill is not that great, but I would bet that most Americans don't want a repeal of it. Why you ask? Because the GOP has not put forth anything and I mean anything that would be any better. This is a total waste of time and definitely a waste of taxpayer money!!! So while these guys are going around talking about the American people want this done, I would have them to really reach out to people other than the lobbyist who are saying so!! Stop talking about repealing and try to fix it for the better!!!
All that has happened is a scenario for the Supreme Court to review this case. Out Congress is there it write laws. If Health care is overturned by the Supreme Court then so can auto insurance. The argument that everone has to have health insurance has not been fully developed to the point of specific as to what limits they must carry or what will be required at all. It may come down to catostophic coverage is all that is needed and that could be at a cost of 20 doallars a year.
The haters are so quick to throw out the entire legistation that they are not even looking at a big picture- long term every city, county and state will save money form health reform! And, every individual will end up with better coverage and be protected incase of an emergency or chronic condition.
You tin pots are really something...all this is to you is a game isn't it? These comments nothing to do with what's best for the people, it's about you and your little selfish dim view of the world. Less than 18% of THE PEOPLE are asking for a full repeal. THE PEOPLE want it improved, most are smart enough to realize what's in place is going to need to change over time.
This is no win for the GOP. President Obama has already stated that he is willing to sit down with the GOP, if they are serious, and make some changes. If they aren't willing to do that I'm sure Obama will veto a repeal by the GOP. And yes, this is a waste of time by the GOP.
A WASTE of taxpayer's TIME and MONEY!!!!
@Max Leygrume
I laugh when I read the RIGHT crowing about first REPEAL, then Repeal and Replace, then FIX, then REPEAL and they know damn well that the REPEAL is not going happen!! Yes, it's a WASTE of taxpayer's money and the TAX CUTS for the RICH is a WASTE of taxpayer's money and I pay taxes!!! Your STUPIDITY brings me great pleasure...
Let’s support our current leader, President Obama, as he continues to MOVE AMERICA FORWARD in order to WIN the FUTURE!
Ingrid If health care is repealed by the GOP, I want all the GOP to give up their health care to show solidarity with all the people that will loose their coverage because of them.
Why aren't you asking for all the Democrats that voted for this to give up what they now have and go on the plan that they want the rest of the country to accept?
so now the GOP/TEA is the Death Panel taking away the healthcare that is being given. Palin--why you so quiet?
Really? Someone once told me bears poo in the woods too. Yawn.
"Odds are 5-4 Obamacare struck down"
I'll take them..you clearly haven't read the applicable case precedent and I'd love to take your money.
The reason why the President enact this law its because People needed to be healthy in order reach their potential of the American dream and this dreams help them have good livelihood and comfortable living. not only that it fuels the economy of the United State of America and healthy Americans means more people will be working that means more tax revenues. Sick Americans are not realizing their dreams, and that the added cost of their care they pull all the stop to this country's ability to rise above inflation. and make them less competitive when it comes to the job market (which means now those American can outsource the job to asia and china where citizens are healthier ) that help this countries economy. When people can't afford medication and treatment they are the one being where health care is rationed.
REPEALING THE HEALTH CARE IS THE REPUBLICANS WAY OF RATIONING HEALTH OF THOSE WHO HAVE AND THOSE WHO HAVE NONE IT BECAUSE NOW THOSE WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY WILL DIE EVENTUALLY AND THOSE WHO ARE RICH ARE THE ONE WHO SURVIVES . REQUIRING PEOPLE TO BUY HEALTH INSURANCE IS LIKE GIVING CHANCE TO EVERYONE FOR SURVIVAL AND REALIZING THEIR DREAMS AND THE MORE PEOPLE WHO BUY THIS MEANS EVERYONE CAN AVAIL HEALTH CARE. EVERYONE SURVIVE NOT JUST THE RICH BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN AFFORD IT.
HERE'S THE TRUTH:
GOP REPEALING HEALTH CARE REFORM = BLATANT EUGENICS OF THE SICK POOR PEOPLE(( CHILDREN DISABLED AND OLD PEOPLE ALIKE). THIS ARE THE GOP AND THEIR BASES WAY OF SENTENCING THEM TO DEATH
WHICH IN ALL ACCOUNT IS A BLATANT DISREGARD OF EVERY AMERICAN RIGHT TO LIFE, LIBERTY AND HAPPINESS. WHERE IN ALL ASPECT THE AMERICAN CONSTITUTION IS BASED UPON . THEREFORE REPEALING HEALTHCARE IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL ACCORDING TO THE FOUNDING FATHERS WHO WROTE THIS LAW.
So, I don't get it Obama and all of the Dems kept on telling us that it won't raise health insurance but yet my rates skyrocketed this year by $1,200. The company I work for explained after talking to the insurance provider that they had to raise rates to cover the newly eligible people for their healthcare due to the new law... Also the states are taking the burden of the expanded medicare, I understand that the federal gov't is covering the bill for a while but still, who's talking about all of the large costs down the road. People are too short sighted to see that we cannot afford to continue paying everyones way. I personally believe that if you have the ablility to work, you should, and look at our welfare system. Name one service that the government does that it very efficient. A private industry has to worry about cost, government doesn't. It can borrow and borrow and borrow, then raise taxes, (I wish I could get a raise everytime I got myself into debt)
It's got a long way to go, but it certainly needs to GOoooooooo!
Reid is too afraid to bring it up in the senate – he knows it will hurt democrats. Obamacare is a job loser and everyone knows it. The only jobs that we will get it governemnt jobs which is all we have seen in Obama' first two years in office. We have lost 3 MILLION jobs since Obama's first day in office.
If people truly want to fix health care then incentives need to be brought in line. Fee-for-service physicians have the incentive to do unnecessary procedures, or even to do things poorly and requiring re-treatment, because they get paid for quantity and not results. Insurers have the incentive to spend money to identify those with preexisting conditions to deny them coverage and pass on these costs to those that are healthy and will likely not cost much money. Those with preexisting conditions have the incentive to lie about them or work for a large employer that cannot ask, which may not be the most productive position for the individual. Those with insurance have the incentive to seek treatment when not needed because insurance shields them from the true cost of care.
If we are ever going to fix all of these issues, at least one person won't like the result. Most people do favor making it illegal for insurers to deny those with preexisting conditions. They fail to realize, though, that if insurance is not mandated then people will simply not buy insurance until they are extremely sick. And since the insurance companies would not be able to deny them they would just go bankrupt.