U.S. Representative Paul Cook of Yucca Valley voted Friday, along with most of his fellow Republicans, to approve a budget resolution that is the first step in repealing the Affordable Care Act. The vote was 227-198, with nine Republicans crossing party lines to vote with Democrats against the resolution. The Senate passed a similar measure earlier in the week, 51-48. The resolution allows Senate committees to begin drafting reconciliation legislation to change health care laws that cost the government money or that are implemented as taxes. The Affordable Care Act used federal funds to pay for the expansion of Medicaid, closed the “donut hole” for Medicare, and provided tax credits and subsidies for purchasing insurance, among other measures. Republicans have said they plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, and replace it with their own health care plan later this month, but they have not presented their health care legislation yet.
