House Passes Bill to Fund Government, Defund ObamaCare

The House voted Friday to fund the government through mid December but defund ObamaCare, setting up a showdown with the Senate over a possible government shutdown on October 1.

The House voted 230-189 on Friday to pass a bill that would fund the government through mid December but defund ObamaCare, setting up a showdown with the Senate over a possible government shutdown on October 1.

The vote was along mostly party lines with Congressman Scott Rigel (R-VA) being the only Republican no vote.

The language that defunds ObamaCare is expected to be stripped from the Senate version of the bill.

Speaking on the vote, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) said, “Each week, we hear stories about how both major employers and small businesses are cutting back benefits and cutting back hours. The president’s healthcare law is turning our full-time economy into a part-time economy. Let’s defund this law now, and protect the American people from the economic calamity that we know ObamaCare will create.”

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) disagreed, saying the bill was just an attempt to shutdown the government. “What is brought to the floor today is without a doubt… a measure designed to shut down government. It could have no other intent. It’s purpose is clear,” said Pelosi.

Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) added that he thinks the Republicans won’t go through with a shutdown. “At the end of the day, they’ll blink,” said Schumer.

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Ian Smith is one of the co-founders of FedSmith.com. He has over 20 years of combined experience in media and government services, having worked at two government contracting firms and an online news and web development company prior to his current role at FedSmith.