The proposed amendment was introduced by Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), a member of the Tea Party caucus. If it had been tacked onto the continuing resolution for fiscal 2011, which will be debated this week, it would have called for withholding $105 billion in reform spending over 10 years.
The committee determined the measure violated House rules against members “legislating” on appropriations bills. However, a committee member reminded Rep. King that he has “lots of other opportunities” to offer a similar amendment to other bills this year.
Meanwhile, Politico reported that the political action group DeFundIt.org is distributing on Capitol Hill a guide on how Congress could withhold funds implementing the reform law. The group’s list of possible targets includes money for:
* Multi-state plans to be administered by the Office of Personnel Management
* Prevention and Public Health Fund
* State premium reviews to combat “unreasonable” rate hikes by insurers
* Preventive Services Task Force, which will determine which services must be covered by health plans
* Health insurance exchanges, which some Republicans support
* Demonstration projects for alternatives to medical malpractice reform
Read the Hill report on healthcare reform.
Read the Politico report on DeFundIt.org.
Read more coverage of efforts to defund the healthcare reform law:
– Republicans Plan to Withhold Healthcare Reform Funding
– President, GOP Set to Battle Over Appropriations for Reform Law
– GOP Strategist Targets Parts of Reform Law, Including Assignment to ACOs
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