President Makes Good on Promise to Veto Bill That Guts Obamacare

Before the House of Representatives had even passed the bill that guts the Affordable Care Act (ACA), President Obama had already announced he would veto it. And now he has made good on that promise.

The Senate had passed the bill in December, despite the president’s vow that should it make it to his desk, he would veto the bill. On Wednesday, the House voted 240-181, almost entirely along party lines, to pass the legislation that essentially repeals the ACA.

"This legislation would cost millions of hard-working middle-class families the security of affordable health coverage they deserve," Obama wrote in his veto message. "Reliable health care coverage would no longer be a right for everyone: it would return to being a privilege for a few."

While House Speaker Paul Ryan quipped in a statement that it was no surprise “someone named Obama vetoed a bill appealing Obamacare,” the president noted that he believed the bill would cause harm to the health and financial security of Americans.

"Rather than re-fighting old political battles by once again voting to repeal basic protections that provide security for the middle class, members of Congress should be working together to grow the economy, strengthen middle-class families, and create new jobs," Obama wrote.

While Ryan vowed that he would hold an override vote when the bill goes back to Congress, Republicans do not have enough votes. However, he added that if a Republican is sitting in the White House next year, this bill will get signed into law.

“The idea that Obamacare is the law of the land for good is a myth,” he said in a statement. “This law will collapse under its own weight, or it will be repealed. Because all those rules and procedures Senate Democrats have used to block us from doing this? That's all history.”

he National Council of Asian Pacific Americans leading the way.

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said in a statement

National Director Christopher Kang

“We strongly support the President’s veto so that our communities can continue to have access to health care resources. "We are disappointed in yet another attack from Republicans in Congress to repeal the ACA, which has already benefitted millions."

Already, healthcare organizations are stating their support for the president's action with t