By Travis Martinez, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

House Minority Lead John Boehner (R-Ohio) promised late Saturday morning that Congressional Republicans are preparing a strong stand against the Affordable Health Care for America Act, stating that they will attempt to convince Democrats to vote against the legislation.

“Members are having conversations with colleagues on the other side of the aisle… we’re going to do everything we can to make sure this bill does not happen,” he said.

The House is expected to vote on the bill Saturday evening.

Boehner and the rest of the House Republican leadership stood at a podium flanked by two flow charts showing what Boehner described as the ‘Super Bureaucracy’ that will be implemented if the bill passes.

House Minority Whip Erica Cantor (R-VA) commented that the only bipartisan votes on this bill will be from Democratic members who have decided to side with Republicans in opposition.

Cantor touted the Republican’s alternative bill.

“One version … will be a massive overhaul and remake the health care system that we know to a system we don’t, and another version … takes a reasoned and smart approach,” Cantor said.

Rep. Zach Wamp (R-Tenn.) says the GOP health care reform alternative won’t “saddle” states, “like the Pelosi plan…by adding a lot of [people] to the state’s Medicaid rolls.” (0:28)

 

 Standard Podcast [0:28m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Travis Martinez – University of New Mexico /Talk Radio News Service

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) Thursday urged Rep. Chuck Rangel (D-N.Y.) to resign from his position as Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.

“This is a time for Speaker Pelosi, who promised to drain the swamp, to have the most open and ethical congress in history… she has not done it yet,” he said.

Boehner also commented on the Defense Authorization Bill, calling the hate crimes legislation attached to it, “radical, social policy that is being put…on the backs of our soldiers… this is an abuse of the legislative process.” Added Boehner, “I’m offended by it!”

In response to the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee’s release this week of its healthcare reform bill following what Boehner called, “a mysterious delay,” the Ohio Republican lobbied for mandatory public review of all bills. He added that he will propose a resolution to ensure that all bills that come to the floor are available to members of the public for 72 hours before they are voted on.

The Leader also called on President Barack Obama to request that Gen. Stanley McChrystal testify before Congress regarding his assessment of the situation in Afghanistan.