Sen. Ted Cruz on Wednesday conceded that his attempt to strip funding from President Barack Obama’s healthcare reforms as part of a government spending bill stands no chance of passage.
However, the Texas Republican freshman said the bid is still worthwhile as it will put senators on record as to whether they still support the law.
The Senate is all but certain to defeat Cruz's bid to strip funding until the economy starts growing at historical rates.
Cruz warned that Obamacare could push the economy into another recession if fully implemented.
“If we implement Obamacare now, it is certain to be destructive to growth,” he said at a Capitol Hill press conference. “At a minimum, Obamacare shouldn’t be implemented at a time when the economy is gasping for air.”
Sen. Tom Harkin pushed back on the Senate floor, noting that it’s the 34th time that Republicans have tried to defeat Obamacare.
“It’s time to move on with the Affordable Care Act,” the Iowa Democrat said of the bill’s formal name. “We’ve already made our decisions on this, and we’re moving ahead.”
The budget, introduced by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, assumes the repeal of Obamacare, claiming Obama’s healthcare system will “collapse under its own weight.”
Cruz said the Wisconsin Republican’s budget is a step in the right direction but “doesn’t go far enough.”
He said that he hoped the provision could be included in the $982 billion spending bill should it need to go to a House-Senate conference to work out details.
“I think it’s the right position for Republicans to be taking,” he said.
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