By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
On Thursday Congressman Robert Aderholt (R) from Haleyville announced that he was supporting a controversial new plan to defund implementation of the unpopular Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act by passing a continuing resolution which would keep the government running; but would prohibit funding of the increasingly expensive and unpopular legislation, almost universally known as Obamacare.
Congressman Aderholt said,
“I stand in strong support of a continuing resolution that defunds Obamacare and offers the Senate and the Administration one more chance to finish our Appropriations bills in regular order. Aderholt said, “Obamacare is a train wreck. It’s bad for American families, it’s bad for small businesses, it’s bad for doctors and hospitals and it’s bad for our nation’s economy.”
The conservative congressman continued,
“Further, according to the Administration that wanted it, it’s also not ready. Congress has a real opportunity to stop this train wreck and H.J.Res. 59 is the right way to do it. The House has voted nearly 40 times to repeal, replace, dismantle or defund all or portions of Obamacare. The House has done our job, it is time for the Senate to do theirs. Including language in the base text of short-term continuing resolution will force the Senate to finally address the issue and show American’s where they stand.”
Critics of the plan, being promoted by Senator Ted Cruz (R) from Texas argue that the Republicans are walking into a political trap set by the President. Senate Majority Harry Reid is unlikely to pass the continuing resolution (or even let it come to a vote in the Senate) with the language defunding Obamacare in it which would lead to a fall government shutdown.
The President and his legion of mainstream media allies would then blame Republican intransigence for the government shutdown, even though the House passed a continuing resolution which if passed by the Senate would keep the government funded.
Conservative supporters of the plan argue that Obamacare has already cost tens of thousands of Americans their healthcare coverage and has forced millions to pay higher premiums while also acting as a drag on the economic recovery so should be defunded regardless of the political ramifications.
Also this fall the Congress is going to have to raise the debt ceiling yet again since despite massive tax increases in January the country still has a massive deficit so there is also a pending showdown on the debt ceiling.
Congressman Robert Aderholt represents Alabama’s Fourth Congressional District and is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.
