THE HILL

GOP unveils repeal arsenal, Woolsey reintroduces public option

By Julian Pecquet - 01/06/11 03:05 PM ET

Republicans have already introduced almost a dozen bills aimed at repealing, defunding and otherwise weakening Democrats' healthcare reform law since the new Congress opened for business Wednesday.

At the same time, liberal Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.) followed through on her promise to reintroduce her public option bill. The Congressional Budget Office last year said it would save $68 billion over 10 years.

"This is the perfect moment for the public option," Woolsey said in a statement. "It builds on the health care reform legislation by lowering costs and it provides a great way to bring down the deficit."

In addition to House Majority Leader Eric Cantor's bill to repeal the entire law that is coming up Wednesday, at least two Republicans - Reps. Steve King (R-Iowa) and Connie Mack (R-Fla.) - have introduced straight repeal bills.

Others are more specific:

• Rep. Scott Garrett (R-N.J.) has a bill to repeal the individual mandate, and Rep. Ted Poe (R-Texas) would prohibit federal funds to be used to enforce it;

• Rep. John Fleming (R-La.) proposes to rescind funds for the law's Health Insurance Reform Implementation Fund;

• Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.) would replace the healthcare reform law with "incentives to encourage health insurance coverage;"

• Rep. John Fleming (R-La.) has two bills. One would amend the law to allow states to elect not to establish a health exchange; the other would prohibit the hiring of additional employees by the Internal Revenue Service to "implement, administer, or enforce" the law;

• Rep. Tom Graves (R-Ga.) would deauthorize appropriation of funds to carry out the law; and 

• Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Calif.) has a bill to repeal the law's 1099 tax reporting requirement.

Other proposals don't directly target the healthcare reform law.

Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) wants to allow Medicare beneficiaries the option of choosing a voucher for a health savings account or a high deductible health insurance plan while eliminating the late enrollment penalties for people who wait until they're 70 to enroll in Medicare. And Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) has a bill to "provide greater health care freedom for seniors."

Source: http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/other/136447-gop-unveils-repeal-arsenal-woolsey-reintroduces-public-option