House poised to begin ACA repeal process

Congress is set to take its first step toward rolling back President Obama’s health care reform law Friday, with the House scheduled to take an afternoon vote on key preliminary legislation (Source: “Congress readies to begin Obamacare repeal process,” Washington Post, Jan. 13, 2017).

The measure, which was passed Thursday by the Senate, will allow Republicans to use special budget procedures to repeal major parts of the Affordable Care Act without cooperation from Democrats.

House Republicans from divergent wings of the party had raised concerns this week about taking the initial step without having a more detailed plan in place for ultimately replacing Obamacare with a GOP alternative.  But House leaders worked in recent days to address those concerns, even as President-elect Donald Trump made public statements setting out an ambitious timeline for action that many on Capitol Hill see as unrealistic.

House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) said in a Friday floor speech that the measure set to be passed Friday would launch a “thoughtful, step-by-step process” toward replacing Obamacare.