House Speaker-in-waiting John Boehner gave his first indications today of what the future of the 2010 healthcare bill will be. Speaking with reporters at the Capitol Boehner said that repealing healthcare remains a top GOP priority.
“The American people are concerned about the government takeover of healthcare. I think it is important for us to lay the groundwork before we begin to repeal this monstrosity and replace it with common sense reforms that will bring down the cost of health insurance in America,” Boehner said at a brief press appearance with House Minority Whip Eric Cantor.
A few minutes later, House Republican Conference chairman Mike Pence repeated their call.
"House Republicans will not rest until we repeal Obamacare lock, stock and barrel. We’re going to do everything in our power to pass legislation to completely start over," he said.
But Boehner hedged on how quickly the new Republican majority would seek the repeal, being careful not to outline a specific timetable or articulate where the party would make its first spending cuts.
“We’ll make a lot of decisions over the coming months about what will happen in January,” he said.
Still, he noted that, “it’s pretty clear” the agenda of President Obama and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif is being rejected by the American people.
Republican leaders have been careful about claiming the election as a party victory all morning: it is all about what “the American people." They are treating this election as referendum on Obama rather than a specific embrace of the Republican platform.
Get the latest news and analysis delivered to your inbox. Sign up for National Journal's morning alert, Wake-Up Call, and afternoon newsletter, The Edge. Subscribe here.
Leave A Comment