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| Obstructions to a Free America |
Q: What is meant by "defunding Obamacare" (ACA) -
A: Attaching a legislative rider to a 'must pass' bill such as the debt limit, spending bill, etc. that prohibits funds from being spent on any activities to implement or enforce the Affordable Care Act; recinds any unspent balances that may have been appropriated and turns off the exchange subsidy and new Medicaid spending that were in the 'auto-pilot'.
Q: Isn't defunding impossible because there is not a specific funding stream for Obamacare? Funding is embedded throughout the federal government and not specifically designated?
A: No. Congress is aware of all of the programs that fund Obamacare because CRS has provided such a list and the Appropriations Committees are well versed in the funding intricacies of the law. However, a blanket prohibition against funding all activities associated with implementing the law is all that is needed to halt implementation.
Q: If you don't have the votes for a statutory repeal, why would you think you can get the votes to defund Obamacare?
A: The Constitution grants the House of Representatives the ultimate "power of the purse". If Congress chooses not to fund Obamacare activities for the upcoming fiscal year, the Obama Administration cannot act to implement the law. The President's party does not control the House of Representatives, which must originate debt limit and spending bills to fund the government. And the House Republic Majority was elected in 2010, on the basis of its platform against Obamacare.
Q: Won't adding a provision to defund Obamacare to a "must pass" appropriations bill lead to a government shutdown?
A: Obviously, this will set up a major political confrontation with President Obama but it is the sort of conflict that will allow conservatives in the House to remind the American people that the worst aspects of Obamacare are about to take hold and a defunding rider is the only thing standing in the way.
Note: The above is an excerpt. For a more thorough explanation see: http://www.heritageaction.com
WHAT HAPPENS DURING A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN?
A government shutdown isn't a catastrophe or unusual particularly when a divided government is at odds over issues of spending, taxation, deficits and debts. Six (6) shutdowns have occurred between 1977 and 1980 and eleven (11) more shutdowns occurred through 1996. The term "shutdown" is an overstatement of what happens. Essential services such as providing for national security, conducting foreign affairs, continuity of mandatory benefit payments and protecting life and property continue.
The number of workers that would be affected, according to Administration officials, would be about the same number of federal government workers as during the 1995 shutdown when approximately 800,000 workers were initially furloughed.
Note: This information has been excerpted from The Heritage Foundation, Factsheet No. 124/July 30, 2013 where you can find a more in-depth explanation.
Right now, House Speaker John Boehner is resisting the call of his majority members to defund the Affordable Healthcare Act (Obamacare) which means he is deliberately ignoring and violating the will of the majority of Americans who want to see this Act gone. Currently in the House is a bill (HR 2682) authored by Congressman Graves of Georgia to defund the AFA co-sponsored by a total of 80 Representatives. Congressman Stockman has authored H.Res. 333 confirming that any CR or debt ceiling increase it may approve during the 113th Congress shall affirmatively include a provision specifically prohibiting the expenditure of any federal funds in support/implementation of the AFA.
A rally is currently scheduled for Tuesday, August 27th, 2013 at Speaker Boehner's Ohio office. I urge everyone to call their Congressman AND Speaker Boehner and urge them to defund the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) when they return to 'work'. Then, we must work on the Senators to do the same.
Q: Isn't defunding impossible because there is not a specific funding stream for Obamacare? Funding is embedded throughout the federal government and not specifically designated?
A: No. Congress is aware of all of the programs that fund Obamacare because CRS has provided such a list and the Appropriations Committees are well versed in the funding intricacies of the law. However, a blanket prohibition against funding all activities associated with implementing the law is all that is needed to halt implementation.
Q: If you don't have the votes for a statutory repeal, why would you think you can get the votes to defund Obamacare?
A: The Constitution grants the House of Representatives the ultimate "power of the purse". If Congress chooses not to fund Obamacare activities for the upcoming fiscal year, the Obama Administration cannot act to implement the law. The President's party does not control the House of Representatives, which must originate debt limit and spending bills to fund the government. And the House Republic Majority was elected in 2010, on the basis of its platform against Obamacare.
Q: Won't adding a provision to defund Obamacare to a "must pass" appropriations bill lead to a government shutdown?
A: Obviously, this will set up a major political confrontation with President Obama but it is the sort of conflict that will allow conservatives in the House to remind the American people that the worst aspects of Obamacare are about to take hold and a defunding rider is the only thing standing in the way.
Note: The above is an excerpt. For a more thorough explanation see: http://www.heritageaction.com
WHAT HAPPENS DURING A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN?
A government shutdown isn't a catastrophe or unusual particularly when a divided government is at odds over issues of spending, taxation, deficits and debts. Six (6) shutdowns have occurred between 1977 and 1980 and eleven (11) more shutdowns occurred through 1996. The term "shutdown" is an overstatement of what happens. Essential services such as providing for national security, conducting foreign affairs, continuity of mandatory benefit payments and protecting life and property continue.
The number of workers that would be affected, according to Administration officials, would be about the same number of federal government workers as during the 1995 shutdown when approximately 800,000 workers were initially furloughed.
Note: This information has been excerpted from The Heritage Foundation, Factsheet No. 124/July 30, 2013 where you can find a more in-depth explanation.
Right now, House Speaker John Boehner is resisting the call of his majority members to defund the Affordable Healthcare Act (Obamacare) which means he is deliberately ignoring and violating the will of the majority of Americans who want to see this Act gone. Currently in the House is a bill (HR 2682) authored by Congressman Graves of Georgia to defund the AFA co-sponsored by a total of 80 Representatives. Congressman Stockman has authored H.Res. 333 confirming that any CR or debt ceiling increase it may approve during the 113th Congress shall affirmatively include a provision specifically prohibiting the expenditure of any federal funds in support/implementation of the AFA.
A rally is currently scheduled for Tuesday, August 27th, 2013 at Speaker Boehner's Ohio office. I urge everyone to call their Congressman AND Speaker Boehner and urge them to defund the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) when they return to 'work'. Then, we must work on the Senators to do the same.
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