After House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) declared that House Republicans would end the government shutdown over Obamacare funding by allowing a vote on a bipartisan Senate deal, he said the House would try to repeal Obamacare by relying on "smart, targeted strikes that split the legislative coalition the president has relied upon to force his health care law on the American people."
In a meeting Wednesday with the House Republican conference, Boehner said that a bill offered by Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) to allow individuals to keep their health care plans fits in with that strategy. "Remember the strategy for stopping Obamacare we laid out to you back in July. It had two components: Aggressive, coordinated oversight, and targeted legislative strikes aimed at shattering the legislative coalition the president has used to force his law on the nation,” Boehner said, closely following his earlier comments. "That plan is being executed as we speak."
The statements signal how much of a reversal of fortune Republicans have enjoyed since the Obamacare exchange glitches and cancellations of individual health insurance plans. The shutdown failed to make any changes to Obamacare, while the cancellations have caused even Senate Democrats -- including liberals such as Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) -- to sign onto a bill to allow individuals to keep their health insurance plans.
The White House opposes the Upton bill. However, Roll Call reported Monday that the White House is exploring an "administrative fix" to cancellations. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Thursday morning that there may be a presidential announcement on Obamacare by midday.
A Boehner spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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