Obamacare Repeal: House Republicans Take First Steps To Dismantle Affordable Care Act

Republicans in the House of Representatives voted Friday afternoon, against a unanimous minority of Democrats, to pass a resolution that puts them on the path to repealing the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare, the president's signature legislative accomplishment.

Nine House Republicans also voted against the measure, which passed 227-198.

"Beyond taking this first step toward repealing Obamacare, we are closer to giving Americans relief from the problems this law has caused," Speaker Paul Ryan said in a statement. "Too many families have seen costs soar, quality drop, and choices reduced to one — which isn't a choice at all."

The statement continues: "This resolution gives us the tools we need for step-by-step approach to fix these problems and put Americans back in control of their health care."

The measure passed Friday does not actually repeal the law. Instead, it will allow Republicans to use the budget reconciliation to repeal central features of Obamacare. Senate Republicans already the passed measure Thursday.

Why the need for the runaround? Since the GOP doesn't have a supermajority in the Senate, Democrats can filibuster any standard repeal bill. Republicans would need 60 votes to guard against the filibuster — but they only have 52.

Senate rules do, however, allow for some bills to be passed with only a simple majority vote, under the budget reconciliation process.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the House minority leader, criticized the speed of the Republicans actions, arguing that Democrats took their time to consider the legislation carefully when it was passed in 2010:

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore