Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) called House Republicans’ push to pass a government funding bill that includes a one-year delay of Obamacare and a Medical device tax repeal “pointless.”
Reid’s statement on Saturday came after House Republican leadership unveiled the continuing resolution with the Obamacare delay and device tax repeal. House Republicans were reportedly quick to embrace the proposal.
“Today’s vote by House Republicans is pointless,” Reid said in a statement on Saturday. “As I have said repeatedly, the Senate will reject any Republican attempt to force changes to the Affordable Care Act through a mandatory government funding bill or the debt ceiling. Furthermore, President Obama has stated that he would veto such measures if they ever reached his desk.
“To be absolutely clear, the Senate will reject both the one-year delay of the Affordable Care Act and the repeal of the medical device tax. After weeks of futile political games from Republicans, we are still at square one: Republicans must decide whether to pass the Senate’s clean CR, or force a Republican government shutdown.
“Senate Democrats have shown that we are willing to debate and vote on a wide range of issues, including efforts to improve the Affordable Care Act. We continue to be willing to debate these issues in a calm and rational atmosphere. But the American people will not be extorted by Tea Party anarchists.”
