House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) said Friday that he supports a bill to defund the new healthcare law, calling on the Senate to “finally” take up the mantle.
The House of Represenatives is expected to pass a continuing resolution Friday that provides funding for the government but defunds the Affordable Care Act, a move that puts the onus on Senate Republicans like Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Mike Lee (R-UT) who have led the quixotic battle over Obamacare.
Cantor expressed opposition last month to the defunding effort because it will raise the risk of a government shutdown, but he pledged “strong support” for the continuing resolution in a floor speech on Friday.
“Let’s defund this law now and protect the American people from the economic calamity that we know Obamacare will create,” Cantor said. “Americans back home are fighting for their families and we in Congress were sent to Washington by our constituents to fight for them. They have put faith in their leaders to do what’s right. For this entire Congress, the house has led on restoring faith in our economy and trust in our government. We should pass this continuing resolution so the Senate can finally begin to do the same.”
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said Thursday that the House’s continuing resolution will be dead on arrival in the Senate.
