Health-care repeal fails in Senate: What's the next GOP target?

In a retake recalling the film version of “Groundhog Day,” the Senate today redebated the 2010 health-care reform law – this time, in a bid to repeal it.

The measure to repeal was proposed as an amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization bill. It failed a procedural challenge on a strict, party-line vote, 47 to 51. On. Jan. 19, House Republicans voted to repeal the health care law, 245 to 189. They were joined by three Democrats.

But today’s vote is only one skirmish in a struggle over the historic law likely to run into 2012 elections – and especially targeting Senate Democrats up for reelection.

“These are the first steps in a long road that will culminate in 2012,” said Sen. John Cornyn (R) of Texas, after today’s vote. “We will continue to expose flaws and faults in this legislation … and the courts will continue to review it.”

Senate majority leader Harry Reid (D) of Nevada said that he allowed the Republican amendment to come to the floor – a rare event in recent years – so that the Senate could move on to work on jobs and the economy. “We want to get this out of their system very quickly,” he said at a press briefing on Tuesday.

With Democrats controlling the Senate and President Obama wielding a veto pen at the White House, the prospects for outright repeal are remote. Instead, Republicans will push for votes to dismantle incrementally the most unpopular elements of the reform. Even if these votes fail, they put vulnerable Democrats on record in time for the 2012 vote.

Unpopular provision repealed

Yet one effort to amend the health-care law succeeded Wednesday. Democrats allowed a floor vote on a provision in the health-care bill that requires businesses to file tax forms for every supplier involving expenditures over $600. The measure, known as the 1099 provision, proved so unpopular with the business community that even President Obama denounced it in his State of the Union address last month.

The measure to repeal the provision passed the Senate 81 to 17. Sixteen of the 23 Democrats up for reelection in 2012 broke ranks to vote with Republicans on the repeal.

“It’s a needed change that eliminates burdensome paperwork for our small businesses,” said Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D) of Michigan, who sponsored the amendment. The measure would have brought the federal government $19 billion, according to Congressional Budget Office estimates, but it also would have required some 40 million American businesses to file 2,000 percent more paperwork to the IRS, Senator Stabenow added.

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