Can Appropriations Bills Defund Obamacare? [Yes!]

Heritage Foundation ^ | Aug 14, 2013

[Jim Robinson]

• Some have argued that because much of Obamacare constitutes “mandatory” spending—namely, new entitlements such as the massive Medicaid expansion and exchange insurance subsidies—Congress is powerless to defund the entire law as part of its annual appropriations bills. These claims are false.

• Congress routinely enacts changes to mandatory spending programs as part of its annual appropriations process. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) recognizes these changes when analyzing spending bills and scores them as CHiMPS—changes in mandatory program spending.

• In February 2011, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1—legislation intended to reduce federal spending by $100 billion, consistent with House Republicans’ “Pledge to America.” CBO found 23 pages’ worth of CHiMPS in the House-passed version of H.R. 1. These reductions in mandatory spending ran the gamut from $26 million in savings over one year, and $74 billion in savings over ten years, achieved by reducing the maximum Pell Grant award (Section 1831), to $30 million in savings achieved by reducing mandatory appropriations to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Section 1517).

• Congress has already defunded mandatory programs within Obamacare—and done so through appropriations measures. Section 1857 of the continuing resolution Congress enacted in April 2011 (P.L. 112-10) “permanently cancelled” $2.2 billion in mandatory funding to Obamacare’s co-op health insurance program.

• Congress has also defunded elements of health care entitlements for decades. Every year since 1976, Congress has enacted the Hyde Amendment, which bans federal funding of abortion. This provision, enacted as part of discretionary appropriations legislation, prohibits abortion coverage in the Medicaid entitlement program.

• Historically, Congress has used the “power of the purse” broadly to make key policy statements through defunding. For instance, in 1982 Congress acted to block the Reagan Administration’s policy for supporting the Contra forces opposing the Nicaraguan government. As part of Public Law 97-377, Congress prohibited both the Department of Defense and the Central Intelligence Agency from furnishing military equipment and support to any group for the purpose of overthrowing the Nicaraguan government. Even though defense spending is not funded through mandatory appropriations, the example demonstrates that defunding has been—and remains—a powerful tool Congress can use to affect public policy.

• Given the examples above, and numerous others, it is beyond dispute that Congress can use its power of the purse to defund Obamacare—both its mandatory and discretionary spending—in appropriations legislation this fall. The lone remaining question is whether Congress can summon the political will to do so.

[MestaMachine]

Should have told you this before. You were righter than right during the last election, so I am NOT going to start second guessing you now.

[MestaMachine]

Well, gang, it’s morning. The fat lady is still singing but she hasn’t hit the last note yet. Special ping because time is of the essence...and if you get three or four or five or more of these, bear with me. I don’t do this so often, but I have eight lists and you guys are on others. So blizzards on the way today. And donate while you’re at it.

[hoosiermama]

Time to post the list of phone numbers for congress-critters again on the sidebar under activism. My list is a couple of elections behind Know where we can find an updated one!

[RedMDer]

DEFUND NOW THEN REPEAL!

[Norm Lenhart]

Just part of the wonderfulness of being me ;)

Kidding aside though, despite all the sycophants that run around here calling me arrogant and posting pictures of Yosemite Sam on a dragon (whatever that’s about...” I am simply intent on sticking to conservative principles. Some people as we see on this very thread, are convinced that our path to victory runs through hiring libs to get is there.

When a single person explains how you get the country to the right by electing people who govern to the left, I’ll shut up and go away willingly.

But they can’t. I’m not wrong, I never WAS wrong and as long as people stick to what we CLAIM to believe in...conservatism...we will never BE wrong.

Which seems to indicate the naysayers arent all that conservative to begin with. If they were, they’d act like it.

[RedMDer]

Select your state here:

http://www.house.gov/

Telephone:

U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 224-3121
TTY: (202)-225-1904

[LibLieSlayer]

Drive a stake through its heart!

[RayChuang88]

We must more than just defund Obamacare. We also need to create a viable alternative.

And here's my suggestion: allow health insurance companies to offer policies across state lines on a regional basis. That way, there will be vastly more choice for health insurance plans, and with a lot more competition, that means lower prices overall.

[Darnright]

>In a few months, many freepers will condemn anyone who says a bad word about him. Cuz he can “Win!”....<

I would love to be able to say, “you’re crazy”, but sadly, I think you’re right.

[VerySadAmerican]

As part of Public Law 97-377, Congress prohibited both the Department of Defense and the Central Intelligence Agency from furnishing military equipment and support to any group

Too bad the law doesn’t prevent the DOD from providing military equipment to city cops.

[VRWC For Truth]

The GOP isn’t interested in smaller government. That message is clear.

[Norm Lenhart]

I wish I was also. But what DOES make me crazy is the legions of people here and on other websites that are all hyperpatriot except when it matters most.

I have said before that faced with actual DEATH and the loss of their families/property et all, the founders of this country spit in the face of the Brits and because of that, we have America. On the other hand, we only have to support principled people and not contribute to our own demise...no death involved...and most of us can’t be counted on to do it. In fact, many trash those of us who DO vote as our founders instructed...through their writings, speeches and that little thing called the Bill of Rights/Constitution.

I was told by one longtime freeper about a year back that “That’s just John Wayne tough talk” or something like that. And people like that are athe problem. They don’t actually believe in their country enough to vote for the people who could possibly save it.

As long as no one touches their material goods, they are fine with almost anything. Look how many here got the zot over backing homos/agenda and even came out and said they would trade abortion if it meant a Repub win.

And these are ‘conservatives?

To tell you the truth, I admire libs in a way. They may be fruitloops, but they can look at eachother without throwing up. With the above breed of ‘conservative’ I wonder if saving any of this is worth it.

[tillacum]

Over 50% of Americans want that done, but the swamp water drinkers in dc aren’t listening to us.

[Norm Lenhart]

Neither are their sycophants around the net. If they were, they would vote for someone else. But as my debate opponent a ways back said, they are happy/proud or whatever of sending liberal Republicans to DC and will do it again and again.

So what are those people really? If we judge them by their actions, they are liberals.

I find it funny that at a time when most here have seen the light about their past mistakes in the booth, a determined number of die hards are really digging in. As the GOP comes out with one F up after another, the cries from a decreasing minority grow more shrill that we’re all doomed unless we abandon third party talk and get back on the GOP plantation....

Odd that.

[VRWC For Truth]

Let the market decide. No middlemen. Buying healthcare is like buying any other product.

[Alamo-Girl]

Buuuuump!

[Carry_Okie]

Tim Geithner will cut the checks anyway.

These people don't care about laws.

[RKBA Democrat]

But will the gop/’rat uniparty do it? No!

We shouldn’t assume that our so called allies in the gop actually want to defund owebamacare. The sad truth is the gop wing of the uniparty wants owebamacare to go into effect just as much as the ‘rat wing does. Why:

- To get access to the immense amount of personal data that owebamacare requires. Information is power. The gop wing on the uniparty is just as keen about increasing it’s power over the average person as the ‘rat wing is.

- To shift health costs from their corporate cronies to the taxpayer. This is a big one. Major employers are salivating over the thought of getting rid of their healthcare costs. When owebamacare becomes single payer, as it must, it will be Mission Accomplished.

- To keep an issue on the front burner for propaganda purposes. If owebamacare is actually fixed by defunding it, the gop wing of the uniparty loses a bogey man to rally the serfs with.

[RKBA Democrat]

“I find it funny that at a time when most here have seen the light about their past mistakes in the booth, a determined number of die hards are really digging in. As the GOP comes out with one F up after another, the cries from a decreasing minority grow more shrill that we’re all doomed unless we abandon third party talk and get back on the GOP plantation....”

It would seem that the diehard supporters of the gop wing of the uniparty are becoming more like the heaven’s gate cult over time. But I might suggest that another dynamic is operating here: we’re getting down to the cronies and the hired help who are becoming more shrill as they just don’t have much else to throw at us.

Folks that don’t have a vested personal interest in the success or failure of the gop wing of the uniparty just aren’t bothering with it anymore.

[Norm Lenhart]

Like I have been saying lately, it’s like our version of Celeb/Kardashian worship by the left. But at least KK has something worth looking at. The GOP has mothing to draw any interest.