House Dems pressure GOP on pre-existing conditions protections

A resolution backed by top House Democrats would allow the House to intervene in a pending federal lawsuit to defend the legality of ObamaCare.

The resolution, introduced by Rep. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), mirrors one introduced in the Senate last week and is aimed squarely at congressional Republicans.

{mosads}Rosen is running for Senate against Republican incumbent Dean Heller, and the resolution was introduced Thursday, just days before the anniversary of the Senate’s failed vote to repeal ObamaCare.

State Democrats are already involved in the lawsuit, but the resolution would authorize the Office of the General Counsel of the House to intervene as well.

The resolution is backed by the top Democrats of all House committees with jurisdiction over health care, in addition to Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (Md.).

The lawsuit was brought by Republican attorneys general and argues ObamaCare is now unconstitutional since Congress repealed the 2010 law’s individual mandate last year.

The Department of Justice has decided not to defend ObamaCare, writing in a June brief that the court should overturn provisions protecting individuals with pre-existing conditions.

“Refusing to defend the existing law could take us back to the days when insurance companies could discriminate against people for everything from battling cancer to being pregnant,” Rosen said in a statement. “I refuse to sit on the sidelines while this Administration declines to defend these life-saving protections, and I hope members of Congress on both sides of the aisle will support this resolution.”

Sixteen Democratic attorneys general won the right to intervene in the case in May and have been defending ObamaCare in court.