US House paves way for repeal of universal healthcare

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The House of Representatives voted Friday to set the stage for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act.

"The "Unaffordable" Care Act will soon be history!" President-elect Donald Trump, who has been a fervent critic of President Barack Obama's landmark healthcare achievement, said.

The 227-198 vote allows lawmakers to roll back key components of the act. If congressional Republicans choose to pursue the action they will be tasked with ensuring a near simultaneous implementation of a replacement, which may prove to be the more difficult task.

The budget does not require Obama's signature.

Nine Republicans joined with all of the chamber's Democrats in opposing the measure.

The Senate passed the same measure earlier this week.

“By taking this first step toward repealing Obamacare, we are closer to giving Americans relief from the problems this law has caused," House Speaker Paul Ryan said in a statement. "Too many families have seen costs soar, quality drop, and choices reduced to one—which just isn’t a choice at all. This resolution gives us the tools we need for a step-by-step approach to fix these problems and put Americans back in control of their health care.”

Critics of the Affordable Care Act have pointed to rising premiums, and dwindling choices for many.

But Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi told lawmakers that the Republican plan to repeal and replace the healthcare law is "not realistic".

"For six years they have had a chance to propose an alternative. We see nothing," she said on the House floor.

"They want to cut benefits, and run. They want to cut savings, and run. They want to cut access and run. They want to cut Medicare and run. [Cut] Medicaid, and run," he said.

Few specifics on what Trump and Congressional Republicans are seeking have come to light.