WASHINGTON - The US House will vote Saturday on a Republican plan that funds the government through mid-December and delays implementation of the country's new health care law, a strategy that could lead to a crippling shutdown.
House Speaker John Boehner gathered his caucus and called for a rare Saturday session as Congress struggles to break a funding impasse that, if unresolved, would see federal agencies close after the fiscal year ends Monday night.
Under pressure from his party's far-right conservative wing, Boehner doubled down on his caucus's bid to stop President Barack Obama's signature domestic achievement, his health care law, vowing to send a bill back to the Senate with barely any time for legislative action to avoid a shutdown.
"Later today, the House will vote on two amendments to the Senate-passed continuing resolution that will keep the government open and stop as much of the president's health care law as possible," Boehner said in a statement after the meeting.
"We will do our job and send this bill over, and then it's up to the Senate to pass it and stop a government shutdown."
In addition to a one-year delay of the law that has become known as "Obamacare," one of the amendments would repeal an unpopular medical device tax.
"This is exactly what we wanted," conservative congressman Raul Labrador told reporters.
"We're united on sending (it) back to the Senate," congressman Darrell Issa said after the meeting.
"Obamacare is not ready, and the delay is clearly essential."
Issa argued that a one-year delay "might actually be what saves" the health care law, parts of which are set to take effect on October 1.
"And for those of us who believe there are flaws, it gives the president an opportunity to do what he said he would do afterwards, which is start negotiating absurd things like the medical device tax out of Obamacare."
The move sets up a confrontation with the Senate, where Majority Leader Harry Reid has insisted that no legislation that defunds or delays the health care law would pass the chamber.
He also warned that the only bill that would prevent a shutdown was the stopgap funding measure passed by the Senate on Friday.
"Harry Reid will be shutting down the government if he doesn't accept this pretty sensible solution to the debate that we're having right now," conservative congressman Raul Labrador told AFP.
The Republican plan "is exactly what we wanted," he said.
Boehner and fellow House leaders had struggled to stake out a position palatable to their divided members.
Congress now has less than 60 hours to strike a deal that funds government beyond the current fiscal year.
If lawmakers fail, federal agencies will shut their doors and order hundreds of thousands of employees to stay home, while more than a million soldiers will remain on duty without pay.
As if anticipating a possible shutdown, Boehner said the House would also "vote on a measure that ensures our troops get paid, no matter what."
Obama chided Republicans Friday for their budget brinkmanship, but also warned that while he is prepared to negotiate on ways to reduce spending, "we're not going to do this under the threat of blowing up the entire economy."
source: interaksyon.com
