GOP: Vulnerable Democrats will back healthcare law repeal vote

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TheHill:

House Republicans are predicting several more Democrats will join them Wednesday for the chamber’s second vote to repeal the healthcare law.

Only three Democrats voted for repeal after the GOP took control of the House last year, but Republicans are confident they can add to this number on Wednesday in spite of the Supreme Court’s ruling that the law is constitutional.

 

 

Already, one politically vulnerable Democrat, Rep. Larry Kissell (N.C.), has said he will vote to repeal the healthcare law after opposing the same measure a year ago.

The GOP’s hope is that a strong House vote — and fresh Democratic opposition — will thwart the White House’s effort to boost political support for the law in light of the court ruling, said one House Republican leadership aide.

But Democrats see an opening for their side as well. On Monday, a party campaign committee launched Web ads targeting seven House Republicans ahead of the vote. The videos slammed the GOP members, many in vulnerable seats, for supporting repeal of the law’s more popular provisions.

The ad targeting Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-Calif.), for example, suggests that by supporting repeal, she is endangering women whose lives have been saved by breast cancer screenings that the law now covers under Medicare.

“Your member of Congress may vote to repeal important healthcare benefits for everyday Americans,” the video states. “Tell Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack: She shouldn’t repeal our benefits if she wants to keep hers.”

Both parties are ready for offense now that the court’s healthcare decision has upended their messaging war.

With the clock ticking toward November, the House’s second repeal vote gives Republicans another chance to yoke the law to the poor economy and blame President Obama for both.

Democrats, meanwhile, are seeking to portray the GOP as myopically focused on healthcare at the expense of the economy and other problems. The office of Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) released a video mocking the vote by using the mantra employed by Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio): “Where are the jobs?”