The newly elected congresspeople in the U.S. House of Representatives voted 245-189 last Wednesday to repeal the hard-fought health care reform legislation that was passed in late 2009.
 
The repeal, which is not expected to pass by the Democrat-controlled Senate or by President Barack Obama, is largely seen as a symbolic effort by Republicans to show their disapproval of the original legislation. Nevertheless, the vote has reintroduced the health care debate in both houses and once again shows signs of dominating congressional proceedings.
Promises for the repeal date back to before the 2010 elections, at which time dozens of Republican candidates vowed to undo the health care reform now often referred to as “Obamacare.” As the proposal now moves forward into the Senate, house committees are already beginning to explore possible health care alternatives.
Republican representatives have stated that if the proposal does not reach a vote in the Senate, they will attack the legislation on a piece-by-piece basis by refusing to support health care programs and funding provisions that still need congressional approval.
“In the law that is on the books today, it drives up the cost of health care, it drives up premiums, and it adds to the nation’s debt when you look at it in the long term,” Rep. Greg Walden (Republican for Oregon’s 2nd congressional district) said last week during floor debate in the House. “We can do better than this, given the chance. We will get it right and get to a patient-centered health care system that does reform the current system and drives down costs.”
In addition to concerns about funding and national debt, Republicans oppose the health care legislation because they see it as entrenching the system that brought about high costs in the first place. Republicans also see it as an infringement on individual liberty, arguing that the legislation, which will require all Americans to have health insurance starting in 2014, is the first time in history that people have been forced to buy a product from a private provider.
Despite the strong opposition of Republicans to the new health care legislation, many analysts continue to view the House’s repeal and threats of future opposition as campaign promises rather than as parts of a long-term strategy to dismantle health care reform.
“A symbolic vote is not unimportant in the realm of electoral politics. Having the health care discussion opened up again and having it debated fairly will certainly appeal to a segment of the population,” Alison Gash, a University political science professor, said. “But if Republicans continue to do that without any sort of movement and neglect to address the more pressing issues, then I think it is going to work against them.”
In the health care industry, opinions remain divided over health care reform, and for many, future debate is almost a certainty.
However, most agree something needs to be done to remedy the system.
Medical Director at the University Health Center, Jenny Soyke, said that with or without the new health care legislation, access to care is still a huge problem. She said students, even those insured by their parents, are not guaranteed coverage, especially if they are from outside the state. Still, Soyke sees Obama’s legislation as a healthy start and hopes opposition to it will not continue to slow down Congress.
“This legislation was really just a first step, and it needs to go forward. The discussion is far from over but attempting to repeal it entirely is an unnecessary blockade,” Soyke said.
 
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