As the House of Representatives voted to repeal President Barack Obama’s overhaul of the healthcare system Rep. David Dreier (R-San Dimas), who represents a portion of East Altadena, created some controversy when he said during a House Rules Committee meeting Monday evening that he didn’t believe expensive health care should be provided to uninsured individuals with preexisting conditions.
"While I don't think that someone who is diagnosed with a massive tumor should the next day be able to have millions and millions and millions of dollars of health care provided, I do believe there can be a structure to deal with the issue of pre-existing conditions," Dreier said.
The near party-line vote passed in a 244- 185 Wednesday. As with previous attempts to stop “Obamacare,” the Democrat-controlled Senate is expected to vote down the repeal.
House Speaker John Boeher echoed Dreier’s view when he said the legislation, which requires all Americans to obtain insurance or face tax fines, would only hurt the economy.
“[This legislation] is making our economy worse, driving up costs and making it harder for small businesses to hire new workers," Boeher said in Huffington Post following the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold to legislation.
Democrats fired back at the criticisms, with House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi calling the repeal “a useless bill to nowhere” that would hurt the "health and economic well-being of America's families."
Obamacare continues to be the polarizing political debate between Republicans and Democrats in the lead up to the November elections.
