On a warm Saturday evening, by a vote of 231-192, the House passed legislation that would delay Obamacare for one year, repeal the medical-device tax, and fund the government. But the resolution, which will die a quick death in the Senate, does little to solve the fiscal impasse on Capitol Hill.
A shutdown looms. “I think we’re going to shut it down,” a House conservative tells me. “Boehner may try to do something else, but a lot of us aren’t going to go along.” The leadership, for its part, is unsure of the path ahead.
One option on the table: a final CR that includes the Vitter amendment, which would eliminate Obamacare subsidies for congressional staffers and members. But at this point, nothing is decided, and Speaker John Boehner is treading carefully as he works to placate his right flank and avert a shutdown.
“Now that the House has again acted, it’s up to the Senate to pass this bill without delay to stop a government shutdown,” Boehner said in a statement.
Saturday’s stopgap legislation, which was crafted by Boehner and his leadership allies on Saturday afternoon, was moved to the floor after a GOP luncheon. Even though Senate Democrats killed the House’s recent continuing resolution – which defunded Obamacare and funded the government – conservatives were eager to make a similar volley. Boehner embraced the idea.
Two moderate New York Republicans voted against Boehner’s plan: Chris Gibson and Richard Hanna. Two Democrats from conservative districts, Utah’s Jim Matheson and North Carolina’s Mike McIntyre, voted for it.