In a display of the type of leadership that earned John Boehner enshrinement in the G.O.P. Hall of Shame—he was our first inductee—the “RINO from Ohio” is about to cave on one of the issues that put him and the Republicans in control of the House of Representatives in 2010. Obamacare.
Despite polls that show a majority of Americans support repealing it, along with the fact that Boehner pledged in November, 2010 that, as leader, he would make sure that Obamacare “never, ever, ever is implemented,” he has made it clear by his actions that he’s more concerned about protecting his own arse than he is about doing what is right.
Some may argue, including Boehner himself, that he has led the House to vote on repealing Obamacare 40 times. As we all know, votes like these are not much more than window dressing to make it appear that he’s “trying” to get rid of it. Those repeals didn’t have a chance in the Democrat-controlled Senate and Boehner knows it.
But here’s the really sad part, he can effectively shut down Obamacare with one simple act—defund it! The Constitution gives the House the power of the purse—which by the way, lets you know who is responsible for out-of-control spending in the first place. Perhaps Mr. Boehner can learn something from the fourth President of the United States. Addressing this very subject, James Madison observed:
“This power over the purse may, in fact, be regarded as the most complete and effectual weapon with which any constitution can arm the immediate representatives of the people, for obtaining a redress of every grievance, and for carrying into effect every just and salutary measure.” The U.S. Constitution mandates that “the House of Representatives cannot only refuse, but they alone can propose the supplies requisite for the support of government.” This power alone he added, “can overcome all the overgrown prerogatives of the other branches of the government. They, in a word, hold the purse… (The Federalist, No. 58).”
Unfortunately for America, it appears that Mr. Boehner is not only content to allow Obamacare to be “the law of the land“—his words after losing House seats in the 2012 elections—he is also looking for more creative ways to facilitate it.
As the country approaches the debt limit at the end of September, Boehner wants to tie an increase in spending with the defunding of Obamacare through sequestration. He would do this by passing a two-month continuing resolution to keep government-funded at existing levels until, roughly, the debt limit is reached. Then he would offer a sequester replacement in exchange for delaying or defunding Obamacare in order to avoid economic disaster.
Sounds interesting, right? But when you consider how he caved during the fiscal cliff showdown in 2012, I somehow feel that this is likely to be another situation where Obama and the Senate will shut it down, the debt ceiling will be raised, Obamacare will still exist, and Boehner can once again say, “I tried.”
As Erick Erickson at RedState.com says, “Delaying (Obamacare) just gives the bureaucrats more time to write regulations and get infrastructure in place that will be harder and harder to get rid of later.” He’s 100% correct.
Defunding Obamacare is the only way to guarantee shutting it down. The Heritage Foundation has produced a great video called Debunking the Defunding Obamacare Myths. I encourage you to watch it, share it, and use it when you talk to your Representative.
Mr. Boehner, the House must defund, not delay, Obamacare!
What others had to say:
- Mr. Boehner, the House must defund, not delay, Obamacare! – RedState.com
- We Have a Plan – They Don’t – RedState.com
- House GOP’s New Gambit: Tie Obamacare To The Debt Limit – Talking Points Memo
- 4 questions with Ted Cruz on defunding Obamacare – DailyCaller.com
- House Bill to Defund Obamacare Gains 100 Cosponsors – Breitbart
