Boehner warns GOP against 'spiking the ball' on health care ruling
(CNN) - House Speaker John Boehner issued a warning Thursday to fellow House Republicans, firmly stating they should avoid celebrating if the Supreme Court overturns the controversial health care law passed by Democrats.
"No one knows what the Court will decide, and none of us would presume to know. But if the Court strikes down all or part of the president's health care law, there will be no spiking of the ball," Boehner said in a memo to GOP members of the chamber.
- Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker
- Check out the CNN Electoral Map and Calculator and game out your own strategy for November.
The Supreme Court is expected to soon make a decision on the law's constitutionality. At issue is the legality of the measure's health care mandate, a provision that has remained the center of a bitter partisan debate since the law was passed more than two years ago.
Republicans, who frequently refer to the measure as "Obamacare," have especially made the law a hot button topic on the campaign trail. Presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney repeatedly says he will attempt to repeal the law on his first day in office should he win November's election.
Even if the high court rules in favor of Republicans' argument against the controversial law, Boehner on Thursday encouraged House members to stay focused on the economy–not claiming victory.
"We will not celebrate at a time when millions of our fellow Americans remain out of work, the national debt has exceeded the size of our nation's economy, health costs continue to rise, and small businesses are struggling to hire," Boehner stated.
A majority of Americans-51%–say they oppose the health care law, according to the latest CNN/ORC International Poll conducted in late May. However, it should be noted that nearly one in six oppose the law on the grounds that it is not liberal enough.
Arguing the law is a major threat to economic recovery, the speaker said the House will work on legislation to repeal any part of the law "that is left standing by the Supreme Court."
"Such action is critical for jobs and our economy and for the health care of millions of American families," he said.
Responding to the memo, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's office released its own note, chastising Republicans for railing against the law.
"It is a sad day when Republicans continue to cheer against the health benefits Americans are already enjoying, while running out the clock on the economy and pursuing policies that are dangerous to a thriving middle class. No one, except perhaps House Republicans, actually believes they 'are focused on the economy'," the note stated. "Health care reform is not a game for the American people."
Also see:
Romney set for biggest fund-raising day yet
From CNN Politics
- Harris heading to Honduras under pressure to find a reliable partner in Northern Triangle
- Sail Into 2022 with the Biggest Travel Sign-Up Bonus Ever
- White House to announce US has shipped 400 million vaccine doses globally
- Biden admin to send Russia written responses as soon as Wednesday
- Untitled
- Nancy Pelosi says she's running for reelection
Bonehead warns his Congressional Cohorts not to celebrate millions of Americans loosing their healthcare.
What A Guy
Probably wise words as Americans get the news of insurance rebates, and the reality creeps in that a majority of Americans actually like "Obamacare".
The GOP is filled with such losers- do they think that taking away a great improvement fo healthcare for a vast majority of Americans is going to go down well?
GOP have ruined this great Country. They are a bunch of biggest idiots on Earth. John Boehner is a complete Jerk.
Hey Boehner, a sick workforce is a Non-Productive workforce.
Oh go ahead and spike it it's not as if you can push the baby back into the womb. You all know who was responsible for trying to get this law overturned: the GOP doing the bidding of their corporate masters. Cutting back on your sick celebration at the expense of the millions of Americans that you would've screwed should the law be overturned is not going to make a bit of difference in untarnishing, and removing the stench from what used to be an American, and venerable Party.
Only God can have mercy on your souls. I'm not that good a Christian.
So tell us please what are you goin gto replace the ACA with? Millions of AMericans want to know. The impact on our economy is huge as you keep saying, but what have you got? Nothing.
We already know the talking points of the right are lies. the CBO has already stated that the ACA will lower our debt. Millions of AMericans now have health care that didn't before. The rest of the ACA hasn't even kicked in as yet. You rightwingers out there, what is the plan? This was Romney's plan, and it is working, why are you fools running from it? Forget I asked we alreay know the ONLY reason that this is being flogged by the right is that it was put forward by our President. The rightwing, who now have proven that they are not conservative are all party berfore country.
yeah instead of "spiking the ball" if the rightwing leaning court decides in the GOP favor how about starting to work on something to replace it? I like having my 19 year old son still on my healthcare plan while he's away in college and his grandpa enjoyed the so-called doughnut hole finally being closed. Plus my rates have NOT gone up. Come on Mitt and GOP what is YOUR plan if your SCOTUS buddies that gave us Citizen's United take this away from us?
The Republicans are well on their way to destroying this country with help from their agents in the supreme Court and the locked-up Republican House denying any legislation to go forward!
They want Obama out and will take this country to the brink to get their way..
Vote the Bums out in November!
But if this is what American people want, according to GOP, shouldn't GOP celebrate?
If for no other reason I hope Obama wins for a balanced supreme court, the decisions these guys make are horrible and it's sad when one justice officiates (Thomas) the wedding of Rush Limbaugh. These guys are given lifetime appointments so they don't become puppets but that is exactly where they are. I wish vegas would take odds on how they vote I would be a rich man prognosticating that
Why is government-run health care “good enough for our own military,” but “not good enough for the people of America?”
Boehner wants the GOP to avoid celebrating, kinda like he wants them to avoid passing bills to create jobs.
Give that man another gin and tonic and a cigarette and send him back to the tanning booth.
save it for behind close doors
Yeah, especially when they don't have any ideas of their own, except go home and die quietly!
Hussein is trying his hardest to destroy the country.
Never let your guard down with a liberal around.
Boehener are great than nancy peoisl
Boehner really thinks the American people are stupid doesn't he? Of course they'll be celebrating should the court rule in their favor and yet, not one of them will give up their healthcare plan or propose something better. It truly amazes me when I see the level of ignorance in our society. There are low and middle income earners backing these misfits who are receiving the BEST government health insurance that YOU pay for while they work against YOU and YOUR family having the same but I guess as long as it doesn't help the president they don't care. What a hateful bunch they are and I hope they are all sent to the unemployment lines in November.
Hello Boehner let your people enjoy for that moment and they will see the outcome of it, come Nov. ! After all do you know how the Supreme Court will rule out??? It might turn out different from what you anticipate.
Boehner, where are the jobs?
Democrats have ruined this great Country. They are a bunch of the biggest idiots on Earth. Harry Ried is a complete Jerk.
John you have been drinking to many spiked drinks. Keep your drunk hand off of my HC
No need for any others in the GOP to "spike the ball," because Boehner just did.
How come Politician complain about obama health care when taxpayers are paying for there family socialized medicine?
ObamaCare already costs the nation twice as much as when the Democrats crammed it through Washington. As if this is any time to spend that kind of money on a poorly conceived program that sacrifices cost and quality of care for the sake of access. We can do better. Although Obama thought this was a political win, the American people know it was political fraud and the only way it snuck through was by an exotic political manuever known as Reconciliation which was never intended to be abused for major legislation. Americans deserve better. The states can do that. And they will.