Harry Reid Calls GOP Budget Plan Delaying Obamacare ‘Pointless’
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United States Senate(WASHINGTON) — The federal government could be moving towards its first shutdown in almost 20 years with House Republicans preparing to vote on a spending bill that would delay aspects of the Affordable Care Act for one year in exchange for continuing to fund the government.
Harry Reid called the potential vote “pointless,” saying that “the Senate will reject any Republican effort to force changes to the Affordable Care Act through a mandatory government funding bill or the debt ceiling.” The Democrat-controlled Senate has repeatedly made clear that it will not pass a budget plan that calls for a delay or defunding of Obamacare.
The decision by the House Republicans to vote on a proposal that contains a one-year delay would increase the likelihood of a government shutdown when the fiscal year ends at midnight on Monday.
The Senate is not scheduled to be in session again until Monday at 2 p.m., when they would most likely vote down any such House bill, sending the process back to square one.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leader, criticized Republicans for pushing the delay of the ACA. “Republicans have made their point, now we have to end it. They must abandon this dangerous path to create a Republican government shutdown,” Pelosi said.
Some Republicans remain concerned about the repercussions of a government shutdown, evidenced earlier this week when several Republicans abandoned and even criticized Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, in his attempt to delay the budget bill.
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