Week ahead: Senate sets up ObamaCare vote

The Senate will vote Sunday on repealing ObamaCare, setting up a new round of fighting over the law.

The vote will come on an amendment to legislation providing funding for road and transit projects. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) set up the vote to appease conservatives upset over a separate amendment to revive the Export-Import Bank.

McConnell argued that holding votes on both amendments offers a “balanced” way forward.

{mosads}”Ex-Im shouldn’t be the only vote we take on this bill, and under the compromise I just filed, it won’t be. That’s a much fairer way forward,” he said, adding that Republicans will “continue to fight for” the repeal of ObamaCare.

Democrats are jumping at the chance to accuse Republicans of relitigating old battles.

“We passed the Affordable Care Act, it has been signed into law, and it’s time for Republicans to move on from trying to repeal this law that is helping millions,” Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said.  “I invite them to move on from attempts to repeal and to join us in trying to improve the healthcare delivery system we have in America today.”

The controversy over undercover videos targeting Planned Parenthood is also expected to continue next week.

McConnell on Friday started a fast-track process, known as Rule 14, to allow legislation that would eliminate federal funding for the abortion provider to skip the committee process.

Many Republican lawmakers have been pushing for a vote to defund Planned Parenthood in the wake of the videos, which show officials from the group discussing its donation practices for fetal tissue.

There is also the prospect that another undercover video will be released next week.

As the House Energy & Commerce Committee digs deeper into Planned Parenthood, the panel is also seizing on the findings from another government investigation focusing on the mishandling of anthrax.

Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) released a report Thursday from the Department of Defense that he said showed “repeated lapses in the handling of dangerous pathogens.”

Witnesses from the Department of Health & Human Services, the Department of Defense, and the Government Accountability Office will take questions on Tuesday.

Recent stories:

GOP: Defund Planned Parenthood now: http://bit.ly/1LI2ew4

Sanders slams Bush on Medicare: http://bit.ly/1MpHWbj

Small-business owners swarm D.C. to oppose ObamaCare fines: http://bit.ly/1IrJzFL

Social Security projected to hit insolvency in 2034: http://bit.ly/1Lvc5a3

McCarthy: No rush to repeal ObamaCare by reconciliation deadline: http://bit.ly/1Kpwddj