WASHINGTON — Less than 24 hours after voting to repeal the new health care law, House Republicans said Thursday that they would pass discrete bills to achieve some of the same goals but with more restraint in the use of federal power.
At the same time, Speaker John Boehner said House Republicans would push for much stricter limits on abortion in federal programs, including those created by the new law.
By a 253-175 vote, the House on Thursday directed four committees to draft legislation that would replace the health care law. The directive sets forth 13 objectives.
It says, for example, that the legislation should “lower health care premiums through increased competition and choice,” provide access to affordable coverage for those with pre-existing conditions, increase the number of Americans with insurance and provide states with “greater flexibility” to run their Medicaid programs.
Republicans did not say how they would achieve those goals but made clear that they did not want to impose detailed federal requirements on individuals, families, employers or states.
Rep. Rob Woodall, a freshman Republican from Georgia, said he was proud to have voted for repeal of the new law so Congress could “go back to the drawing board and bring things forward one at a time.”
Another freshman Republican, Rep. Steve Stivers of Ohio, praised a provision of the law that allows children to stay on their parents’ insurance until they reach age 26.
“I am committed to working with my colleagues in a bipartisan manner to support reforms we agree on, like allowing young adults to stay on their parents’ plan,” Stivers said.
Other Republicans praised a section of the new law that helps older Americans with prescription-drug costs.
President Barack Obama said this week that he was “willing and eager” to work with members of both parties to improve the law. But aides said he would adamantly resist efforts to repeal it.
On the House floor Thursday, Democrats said it was bizarre to see Republicans praising consumer protections in a law they had just voted to dismantle.
