by Tom Mulkeen, Contributing Writer

The House of Representatives officially voted today to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care act more commonly known as Obamacare. The official vote tally was 245-189 in favor of repeal mostly along party lines. Every Republican voted in favor along with three Democrats. Two Democrats from Pennsylvania, Tim Holden of the 17th district and Jason Altmire of the 4th district both voted against repealing the bill, although both did vote against the bill in March. Passing a repeal of the health care bill was one of the promises that Republicans in the House made to voters prior to the 2010 elections. The repeal bill will almost certainly die in the Senate where it is highly unlikely that it will even be allowed to come to a vote by the Democrat leaders as reported by The Hill.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee was quick to pounce on one of the first major votes of the Congress. Spokesman Jesse Ferguson instantly released several statements accusing the twelve Congressional Republicans in Pennsylvania who voted for repeal of, “voting to put health insurance companies back in charge of our health care.”  Michael Barley, a spokesman for the PA GOP, countered by saying, “It’s time for Senator Bob Casey to let us know whether he has come to his senses and taken the side of hardworking Pennsylvanians or if he will continue to blindly follow President Obama’s failed agenda.”  The House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) dared Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to hold a vote on the health care repeal as reported by Politico.

Congressman Glenn Thompson (R-5) spoke on the floor prior to today’s vote and said that according to the CBO as a result of the bill, “health insurance premiums could rise by an average of $2,100 per family.” His entire statement is posted on his website. The director of OFA in Pennsylvania, an offshoot of the DNC, Elizabeth Lucas said, “Repealing the Affordable Care Act would give health insurance companies free rein to return to the same practices that denied health care for millions of Americans while lining the pockets of insurers with record-breaking profits.”

It seems clear that the bipartisanship of the lame-duck session is long forgotten. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) released a video shortly after the vote assuring the American public that the health care repeal bill would come to a vote in the Senate as reported by The Hill. How he plans to accomplish this being in the minority is unclear at the moment.