Democratic Rep. James Clyburn said Tuesday he expects President Obama to hold firm on his position that any deal to open the government and raise the debt limit should not tinker with the new health care law.
The South Carolina lawmaker told MSNBC that a House GOP proposal to force all members of Congress, the president and top political appointees into the health care exchanges without an employer subsidy to offset costs does not make sense, since the Affordable Care Act established the markets to help people who do not have access to coverage.
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“This is just a non-issue as far as we’re concerned,” said Mr. Clyburn, who is among top House Democrats who will be meeting with Mr. Obama at the White House on Tuesday afternoon.
The House GOP plan would also delay a tax on medical device manufacturers that was put in the Obamacare law to help pay for the reforms.
The White House and House Democrats have panned the idea, saying they favor a Senate proposal that imposes minimal changes to Obamacare.
That means House Speaker John A. Boehner, Ohio Republican, will have to search for enough Republican votes to pass his new plan.
“I don’t know of any Democrat who is going to vote to undercut the Affordable Care Act at this point,” Mr. Clyburn said.
