WASHINGTON — The House opens a largely symbolic debate Friday on whether to repeal President Barack Obama's landmark health care overhaul, the culmination of the first week with Republicans back in charge.
A procedural vote around midday will set the rules for formal debate and final action next Wednesday.
House Republicans want to repeal Obama's plan to expand coverage to more than 30 million uninsured and start over again with a more modest, less costly approach. But Democratic leaders in the Senate say they'll block repeal.
Both sides are preparing for a standoff. They'll probably take the big issues in the health care debate back to the voters in 2012, when Obama is expected to run for re-election and the House and Senate are up for grabs again.
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