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Boehner on Senate GOP and Obamacare: ‘Time for Them to Pick Up the Mantle’

(Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call)
(Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call)

Speaker John A. Boehner had stern words for Senate Republicans on Thursday morning: Obamacare is your fight now.

Boehner and the GOP House are moving ahead with a plan that would defund Obamacare through the continuing resolution, and the Ohio lawmaker said he expects Senate Republicans to put up a fight in their chamber.

“When it comes to the health care law, the debate in the House has been settled. Our position is very clear: The law is a train wreck,” Boehner said. “It must go.”

When Boehner was asked about Senate Republicans, such as Ted Cruz of Texas, who pushed the House to defund Obamacare through the CR but now appear to have accepted the reality that defunding the health care law can’t be achieved in the Senate, Boehner signaled that it was time to put up or shut up.

“Guess what: We’re having the fight over here. We’re going to win the fight over here. It’s time for them to pick up the mantle and get the job done,” Boehner said.

He said the House would pass the CR on Friday, “then this fight will move over to the Senate where it belongs.”

“I expect my Senate colleagues to be up for the battle,” he added.

As to what he would do if Senate Republicans failed to get the votes to defund Obamacare, he smiled and refused to speculate.

“We’ll have plenty of time next weekend to discuss that,” he said.

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