West Texas Congressional Republicans Vote to Delay Portions of Obamacare

Congressmen Randy Neugebauer (R- Lubbock, pictured), Mac Thornberry (R- Clarendon) & Mike Conaway (R- Midland) all voted in favor of two bills that would delay implementation of portions of Obamacare (officially known as the Affordable Care Act).  The votes on H.R. 2667 and H.R. 2668 took place late Wednesday afternoon.

According to CNN: H.R. 2667, which passed 264-161, delayed for one year the requirement that employers provide health insurance to full-time employees. Thirty-five Democrats joined Republicans on the vote for H.R. 2667.

The second bill, H.R. 2668, was approved 251-174. That bill postponed for one year the mandate that individuals sign up for health care coverage. H.R. 2668 was backed by 22 Democrats.

“There’s more than one way to stop this train wreck of a law, and slowing major parts of it brings us much closer do doing that,” said Rep. Thornberry.  “Exempting the entire country from Obamacare is the ultimate goal, so postponing, delaying, and disrupting implementation of large portions of the law makes complete sense.”

Rep. Neugebauer said, “It’s clear that the President’s health care law is unworkable.  Today, I voted to delay the employer mandate and individual mandate to protect hardworking Texans from getting hit with Obamacare’s high costs.  I want to be clear—this delay isn’t the solution to the problems with this law.  It is simply an effort to give American families the same protection that the President is extending to businesses.  With the year-long delay in place, my colleagues and I will continue working to repeal and defund Obamacare and develop commonsense health care policy that works for all Americans.”

Both bills now move on to the U.S. Senate for consideration.