[Jane Long]

Social Security and Medicare are continually funded in the same manner. A prior Congress provided for mandatory funding within the original legislation. To stop funding those programs, the House would have to vote to defund them.

Bingo! That's what the House JUST DID - last week - w/0Care! They could also vote to Defund welfare, SS, etc., but the MAJORITY of Americans don't want those programs completely defunded! The MAJORITY of Americans DO want 0care DEFUNDED, so the House followed the will of The People.

The House holds the purse strings...for ALL *programs*...and authorizes funding, each year.

[BuckeyeTexan]

Yes, the House voted explicitly to defund Obamacare.

The House holds the purse strings...for ALL *programs*...and authorizes funding, each year.

No, not for all programs. Some programs are continually funded through multi-year/no-year discretionary funds and/or mandatory funding provided within prior legislation.

If the House does not take explicit action to adjust, suspend, or repeal prior funding for those special programs, then that funding remains in effect. The House does not vote every year to continue funding Social Security and Medicare. Those programs have funding unless and until the House says they don't have funding anymore. That's how it works.