Hatch: Defunding Obamacare ‘Was Never Possible’

U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch addresses the Utah Republican Party's annual organizing convention Saturday, May 18, 2013, in Sandy, Utah.
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Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) said Wednesday that using the threat of a government shutdown to defund the health care law was impossible.

“Too many were led to believe we could accomplish something that was never possible – namely defunding ObamaCare through a government shutdown,” Hatch said in a statement, throwing his support behind the latest Senate deal. “This bill isn’t perfect, but it is a path forward to reopen the government and prevent an economy-shaking default.”

Hatch added that the spending levels in the new plan were a victory for the GOP.

“This legislation locks in significant spending reductions against bitter opposition from the other side of the aisle who want to raise the American people’s taxes to spend more money we simply don’t have,” he said. “That is an achievement that cannot be overstated.”

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