Republican-backed legislation that would have repealed portions of the Affordable Care Act and prevented federal funds from going to Planned Parenthood was vetoed by President Barack Obama on Friday, effectively ending the legislature’s latest efforts to eliminate Obamacare.
Obama returned the bill to Congress without his signature, according to a message to lawmakers that appears on the White House’s website. A Republican majority controls both the House and Senate and had enough votes to send the bill to Obama’s desk for the first time, but the party lacks the two-thirds majority required to override his veto and force the bill to become law.
“This legislation would not only repeal parts of the Affordable Care Act, but would reverse the significant progress we have made in improving health care in America,” Obama wrote in the veto message to lawmakers. He added there have been more than 50 attempts to “ to repeal or undermine” the legislation, and criticized Republicans for continuing to pursue the goal.
“Rather than refighting old political battles by once again voting to repeal basic protections that provide security for the middle class, Members of Congress should be working together to grow the economy, strengthen middle-class families, and create new jobs,” Obama wrote Congress.
Citing data from the Congressional Budget Office, Obama wrote that the bill would have caused the number of uninsured Americans to rise by 22 million after next year, and 1.2 million people would have experienced difficulties paying other bills because of a higher cost of health care.
In sending the bill back to Congress, Obama also wrote that about 150 million Americans who obtain health insurance through their employers would have been at risk of higher premiums.
“This legislation would cost millions of hard-working middle-class families the security of affordable health coverage they deserve,” Obama wrote Congress. “Reliable health care coverage would no longer be a right for everyone: it would return to being a privilege for a few.”
Critics of the Affordable Care Act say it has actually led to increased health care costs and limited the options of many Americans since the president initially signed it into law six years ago.
In a statement, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) said Congress would hold an override vote (which will be mostly symbolic) and vowed to continue efforts to eliminate Obamacare, adding Friday’s vetoed bill “will get signed into law” if a Republican wins the presidential election this fall.
“The idea that Obamacare is the law of the land for good is a myth. This law will collapse under its own weight, or it will be repealed,” Ryan said in a statement.
Obama also wrote the bill would “effectively defund” Planned Parenthood because it would have prevented the group from obtaining federal Medicaid funding. The group is often criticized because it provides abortions, though it also provides many other health services to women.
Obama noted there are existing laws in place that prevent using federal money for abortions, unless the pregnancy was the result of rape or incest or could endanger the mother’s life.
