World

GOP Leaders Kyl and Gingrich: Health Care Bill Repeal Not Likely

by Karen Hatter | March 27, 2010 at 07:44 am

214 views | 16 Recommendations | 2 comments

Former Republican Speaker of the House and believed to be possible presidential candidate for 2012 Newt Gingrich and Republican Senator Jon Kyl are both indicating repeal of the health care bill, signed into law last week by President Obama, would not be repealed.

The action would only have a chance of success if Republicans controlled both houses of Congress and the White House.

Many Republicans are now saying seeking revisions to the existing bill may be a better strategy.

More than a dozen states file lawsuits

Minutes after President Obama signed the health care reform bill, attorneys generals from 14 states went to court, filing lawsuits contending the bill overreached the President and Congress' authority, claiming the bill unconstitutional.

Conservatives and a number of Republicans seem divided on how to proceed since the bill has been signed.

"What you have to do is be politically honest," said former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. "If the Republicans win a majority in the House and Senate next year, they will not be able to repeal the bill. The president would veto it," he said. Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) said the repeal effort "is more of a symbol." "[Obama] would never sign a repeal law," Kyl said, adding, "We don't have the votes to get it passed right now. We're not going to waste our time on that." Seeming to recognize this reality, other conservatives such as former Tennessee senator Bill Frist, former New York City mayor Rudy Guiliani, and former Bush speech writer David Frum have all cautioned against the repeal campaign.