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U.S. NEWS A3
Monday 4 January 2016

Health care repeal vote to open a political year in Congress

The Capitol dome is seen on Capitol Hill. It’s been like a long- the country, to say how we tion dealing with Syrian Jan. 6. That comes amid
delayed New Year’s resolution for the GOP. But 2016 will finally would do things very differ- refugees, following House new Democratic accusa-
be the year congressional Republicans put legislation on Presi- ently,” Ryan said. passage of a bill clamping tions of political motives
dent Barack Obama’s desk repealing “Obamacare.” In the Senate, which recon- down on the refugee pro- aimed at Hillary Clinton
venes on Jan. 11, a week gram. Conservatives were after the committee chair-
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) later than the House, early angry when the year end- man, Rep. Trey Gowdy en-
action will include a vote ed without the bill advanc- dorsed Florida Sen. Marco
on a proposal by Sen. Rand ing. Senate Republican Rubio for president. Clin-
Paul, the Kentucky Republi- leader Mitch McConnell ton, the front-runner for the
can who is running for presi- promised a vote, though Democratic presidential
dent, for an “audit” of the without specifying whether nomination, was secre-
Federal Reserve. Demo- it would be the House bill or tary of state at the time of
crats are likely to block it. something else. the Benghazi attacks. The
But, like the health repeal The House Benghazi com- bold agenda promised by
bill in the House, the vote mittee will continue its in- Ryan after succeeding for-
will answer conservative vestigation of the attacks mer Rep. John Boehner as
demands in an election that killed four Americans speaker last fall will begin
year. in Libya in 2012, with an to take shape at a House-
Also expected early in the interview of former CIA Di- Senate Republican retreat
Senate’s year is legisla- rector David Petraeus on this month in Baltimore. q

ERICA WERNER from Democratic obstruc-
Associated Press tion. But that’s the point for
WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s Republicans, who intend to
been like a long-delayed schedule a veto override
New Year’s resolution for vote for Jan. 22, when anti-
Republicans. But 2016 will abortion activists hold their
finally be the year when annual march in Washing-
they put legislation on ton to mark the anniversary
President Barack Obama’s of the Supreme Court deci-
desk repealing his health sion in 1973 that legalized
care reform law. abortion nationwide.
The bill undoing the presi- Despite dozens of past
dent’s signature legislative votes to repeal the health
achievement will be the law in full or in part, Repub-
first order of business when licans never before have
the House reconvenes this succeeded in sending a
coming week, marking a full repeal bill to the White
sharply partisan start on House. They insist that doing
Capitol Hill to a congressio- so will fulfill promises to their
nal year in which legislating constituents while highlight-
may take a back seat to ing the clear choice facing
politics. voters in the November
There are few areas of presidential election.
potential compromise be- Every Republican candi-
tween Obama and the date has pledged to undo
Republican majority in the the health law. The Demo-
House and Senate in this crats running for president
election year, but plenty would keep it in place or
of opportunities for scor- extend it.
ing political points during “You’re going to see us
the presidential campaign put a bill on the president’s
season. Three senators — desk going after Obam-
Ted Cruz of Texas, Marco acare and Planned Par-
Rubio of Florida and Rand enthood so we’ll finally get
Paul of Kentucky — are a bill on his desk to veto,”
seeking the Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan
presidential nomination. told conservative radio talk
Obama will veto the health show host Bill Bennett over
care law repeal bill, which the holidays.
also would cut money for “Then you’re going to see
women’s health provid- the House Republican
er Planned Parenthood. Conference, working with
The measure already has our senators, coming out
passed the Senate under with a bold agenda that
special rules protecting it we’re going to lay out for