The Supreme Court is expected to rule on the constitutionality of President Barack Obama's health care law within the next week, and House Speaker John Boehner has issued a pre-emptive warning to fellow House Republicans if parts of the law are struck down: Forget about celebrating.
In a memo sent to his entire caucus Friday, Boehner warned members not to gloat over what most Republicans would see as a victory.
"[I]f the Court strikes down all or part of the president's health care law, there will be no spiking of the ball," Boehner wrote in the memo. "Republicans are focused on the economy—and under President Obama's policies, our economy is struggling. We will not celebrate at a time when millions of our fellow Americans remain out of work, the national debt has exceeded the size of our nation's economy, health costs continue to rise, and small businesses are struggling to hire."
Boehner also included a list of talking points for Republicans to use when discussing the debate over the federal government's regulation of health insurance markets and made an open invitation for members who want to join in the leadership's response effort when the court finally announces its decision.
Read Boehner's full memo:
M E M O
To: House Republicans
From: Speaker Boehner
Re: U.S. Supreme Court Ruling on President Obama's Health Care Law
Date: 21 June 2012
Next week, as you know, the Supreme Court of the United States is expected to issue a ruling on the constitutionality of President Obama's health care law. In the months since oral arguments were heard by the Court, we have worked diligently with each other, as well as our colleagues in the Senate and in state capitols across the country, to analyze all of the potential rulings and their impact on the American people.
No one knows what the Court will decide, and none of us would presume to know. But if the Court strikes down all or part of the president's health care law, there will be no spiking of the ball. Republicans are focused on the economy—and under President Obama's policies, our economy is struggling. We will not celebrate at a time when millions of our fellow Americans remain out of work, the national debt has exceeded the size of our nation's economy, health costs continue to rise, and small businesses are struggling to hire. ObamaCare has contributed to all of these problems. Repealing it completely is part of the solution ... but it is only one part.
Americans opposed the president's health care law when it was enacted, and they have only grown more opposed to it since then. From listening to the people, Republicans know the critical points remain these:
* The president's health care law is making things worse—driving up health costs and making it harder for small businesses to hire workers. The only way to change this is by repealing ObamaCare in its entirety.
* Unless the Court throws out the entire law, we need to repeal what is left of ObamaCare and enact common-sense, step-by-step reforms that protect Americans' access to the care they need, from the doctor they choose, at a lower cost.
* Republicans will not repeat the Democrats' mistakes. We won't rush to pass a massive bill the American people don't support.
* Health care coverage has become too expensive for too many people. The number-one health care concern of families and small business is the cost of health care, and Republicans' health care reforms will lower costs.
* Women make approximately 80 percent of the health care decisions made for their families. Republican health care reforms will ensure families and doctors make health care decisions—not Washington.
* We want families to be able to make their own choices in health care, visit the doctor of their choosing, and receive the health care they and their doctor feel is best. Those decisions shouldn't be made by Washington.
As I, Leader Cantor, Whip McCarthy and other leaders have made clear in recent days, the House will act in the coming weeks on legislation to repeal any part of ObamaCare that is left standing by the Supreme Court. Such action is critical for jobs and our economy and for the health care of millions of American families.
House GOP Conference Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), Conference Vice-Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), and Policy Chairman Tom Price (R-GA) will be helping to lead our response efforts in the days immediately following the ruling. I commend them for their efforts. If you would like to be involved in our coordinated response efforts following the ruling but have not yet contacted the Conference, please have your staff do so today.