By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
With the midterm elections less than a week away, conservative lawmakers are putting out the word that they have no intention of compromising when it comes to repealing President Obama’s vastly unpopular health care reform law.
The Hill is reporting that House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), the man many expect will be the next Speaker of the House if the GOP wins enough seats to take over the majority, told Fox News host Sean Hannity that on the issue of ObamaCare, they’re not in the mood for compromise.
“This is not a time for compromise,” Boehner said, “and I can tell you that we will not compromise on our principles.”
Boehner’s latest remarks are in keeping with what many conservative lawmakers have been saying lately about just how much compromising they’re willing to do if they regain power.
“Look, the time to go along and get along is over,” said Rep. Mike Pence (R- IN) last week. “House Republicans know that. We’ve taken firm and principled stands against their big government plans throughout this Congress, and we’ve got, if the American people will send them, we’ve got a cavalry of men and women headed to Washington, D.C. that are going to stand with us.”
Pence said his party was not willing to compromise on key issues such as runaway spending and healthcare reform.
“Look, there will be no compromise on stopping runaway spending, deficits and debt. There will be no compromise on repealing Obamacare. There will be no compromise on stopping Democrats from growing government and raising taxes,” Pence said in a recent radio interview. “And if I haven’t been clear enough yet, let me say again: No compromise.”
Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) also voiced optimism recently when he vowed to repeal ObamaCare, and said he believes some of his colleagues on the other side of the aisle will join him.
“I think vulnerable Democrats who say we’ve got to do something, I think they’re going to be willing to work with us to dismantle this piece of legislation,” Corker said.
Because the president is likely to veto any repeal bill, other suggestions are also on the table, such as “starving” the current reform bill of the cash it needs to be implemented.
Retiring Senator Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) also suggested a possible restructuring the law.
“I don’t think starving or repealing [the healthcare law] is probably the best approach here,” Gregg said on the Fox Business Network. “You basically go in and restructure it.”
Irregardless of how they get it done, conservatives know the voters are expecting them to begin acting right away to stop the deficit bleed caused by massive programs such as ObamaCare and a variety of failed bailouts.
Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) says the new incoming breed of conservative lawmakers are planning on trying their best to stop Obama’s agenda, including repealing healthcare reform, if they’re able to.
“All I can say is that from my standpoint, we’re going to do our very best, and put our best foot forward,” Kyl said. “We had 40 votes [in the Senate], and then 41 votes, the absolute bare minimum needed to prevent the Democrats from passing most of their agenda. And with a couple of exceptions, we succeeded. Every single Republican held tight,” he said. “So we have shown that we can act together in a very strong way. And I just have to think that with greater numbers in the Senate, and potentially taking over the House, we’re just going to be in a much stronger position.”
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