UPDATE: Lawmakers sign on for repeal of health care reform
As of today, 74 members of the U.S. House of Representatives have signed on to a discharge petition in an effort to force a vote to repeal the federal health care reform law.
The lawmakers are pretty far off from the needed 218 names and repeal is a longshot. But the move is getting praise from various conservative groups, including the Heritage Foundation and the Club for Growth. They promise to make this a campaign issue.
“The American people are looking for bold leadership,” said Heritage Action Chief Exective Michael A. Needham in a statement. “These thirty Members of Congress are providing that leadership and deserve to be praised for getting out in front on this issue. I fully expect more members to sign the discharge petition as the pressure for repeal continues to build.”
The groups believe the law will become far too costly, especially during such tough economic times.
The bill aims to provide coverage for 30 million uninsured Americans and guarantee coverage and standards of care for everone else -- so if you lose your job and become uninsured you'll be able to find affordable insurance.
No Maryland lawmaker has signed on to the repeal effort. The list of those on the petition are on the next page.
So, should the law stay on the books? Will it increase, rather than decrease, the deficit as promised? Will it be worth it? Will this be the major campaign issue?
Here are the lawmakers who have signed on to the repeal petition:
Jo Bonner (R-Alabama)
John Boozman (R-Arkansas)
Trent Franks (R-Arizona)
Gary G. Miller (R-California)
Doug Lamborn (R-Colorado)
Connie Mack (R-Florida)
Paul C. Broun (R-Georgia)
Tom Graves (R-Georgia)
Tom Price (R-Georgia)
Lynn A. Westmoreland (R-Georgia)
Judy Biggert (R-Illinois)
Steve King (R-Iowa)
Jerry Moran (R-Kansas)
Todd Tiahrt (R-Kansas)
Dan Burton (R-Indiana)
Mike Pence (R-Indiana)
Michele Bachmann (R-Minnesota)
Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma)
Jim Jordan (R-Ohio)
Robert E. Latta (R-Ohio)
Joseph R. Pitts (R-Pennsylvania)
Glenn Thompson (R-Pennsylvania)
Rob Bishop (R-Utah)
Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah)
Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee)
K. Michael Conaway (R-Texas)
Louie Gohmert (R-Texas)
Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas)
Kenny Marchant (R-Texas)
Bob Goodlatte (R-Virginia)