Rubio flips blame on Dems over ObamaCare, government funding fight

Rubio, along with Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Mike Lee (R-Utah), have called on Republicans to reject any government spending plan that includes funding for the Affordable Care Act, also known as ObamaCare. Some Republican senators have chided Rubio’s effort as a threat to shutdown the government, risking the economy. 

{mosads}“We are not threatening to shut down the government,” Rubio said. “We are fully prepared, despite the fact that we are not fans of short-term budgets, we are fully prepared to support one so long as it does not fund ObamaCare because it is a disaster.”

A short-term spending deal is expected in September in order to avert a government shutdown when the new fiscal year starts on Oct. 1. Congress hasn’t agreed to a 2014 budget or passed the 12 appropriations bills to set its funding priorities. Rubio said he would not support the deal if it includes ObamaCare funding because he believes the law has harmed the U.S. economy.

“At this point it is hurting real people, people that I have met,” Rubio said. “People who have insurance that they are happy with, that they are going to lose it. Small businesses that are not going to hire people or are going to move people to part-time work. And so, at this point in time, all we are saying is, ‘Let’s not fund that. Let’s fund the rest of the government, but let’s not fund that.’”

Republicans have argued that healthcare mandates within the law will raise insurance costs for individuals and that employers who would have to provide insurance to full-time employees will reduce workers’ hours and stop hiring.

Democrats point out that the law is already benefiting those with preexisting conditions who can’t be denied coverage, people younger than 26 who can stay on their parent’s insurance plan and women who now pay less for preventative healthcare.