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The
Hill...
House votes
232-185 to block the IRS from enforcing ObamaCare
By Pete Kasperowicz
The House voted Friday to prevent the IRS from enforcing any aspect of
ObamaCare, a bill meant to exact revenge against an agency that
Republicans say is incapable of neutral enforcement of the law.
Members approved the Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act in a 232-185
vote. Four Democrats supported the bill along with every Republican.
The vote capped off several days of work in the House on bills aimed at
reining in government regulation and government overreach.
House Democrats cast the votes as merely for show, given opposition
from the White House and the Senate majority. The Obama administration
threatened to veto the IRS enforcement bill and said it would undermine
the 2010 healthcare law that is aimed at expanding healthcare coverage.
Some of these healthcare votes have created awkward moments for
Democrats. Earlier this month, 22 Democrats voted with Republicans to
delay the individual insurance mandate, and 35 voted to delay the
employer mandate.
But Democrats mostly stuck together on Friday, as only four voted to
pass the IRS bill: Reps. John Barrow (Ga.), Jim Matheson (Utah), Mike
McIntyre (N.C.), and Collin Peterson (Minn.).
Friday’s vote was the 40th time the House has tried to fully or
partially repeal ObamaCare. But it was also a chance to slam the IRS,
which Republicans say has shown itself unworthy of neutrally enforcing
the controversial law.
"The IRS is already out of control, abusing its power to tax and audit
the activities of honest, hardworking Americans," House Ways and Means
Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.) said. "The IRS has betrayed the
trust of the American people.
"Democrats want to give this agency more power and authority?" he
asked. "They want this agency involved in Americans’ healthcare? No
way."
Ways and Means Committee ranking member Sandy Levin (D-Mich.) said the
bill is a continuation of the GOP's "blind obsession" with repealing
the healthcare law. He also said Republicans are incorrectly arguing
that the IRS will have access to people's medical records.
For the rest of this article and more, go to The Hill
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