House GOP leaders set up vote striking ObamaCare

Republican leaders are planning to vote on a House bill to dismantle core pieces of ObamaCare in the lawmakers’ first week back in 2016.

The House Rules Committee announced Wednesday that it will take up a bill repealing ObamaCare mandates and taxes on Tuesday, Jan. 5 — the chamber’s first day back from a monthlong holiday recess.

{mosads}The vote on the legislation, which has already passed the Senate, will set up a veto battle with the White House just ahead of President Obama’s State of the Union address on Jan 12.

After the bill’s passage, which could take place as early as Jan. 6, Obama would have 10 days to veto the bill. Lawmakers would then take a vote to override the president’s veto, a vote that is doomed to fail.

Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) had already said that a vote to roll back ObamaCare would be a top priority in 2016 and has pledged to unveil a long-awaited replacement plan sometime next year.

The bill is the product of months of work by GOP chairmen in both chambers to repeal as much of ObamaCare as possible through an obscure budget process known as reconciliation.

While the bill does not fully repeal the healthcare reform law, it would eliminate the most significant pieces, including requirements for everyone to buy health insurance and most businesses to offer it.

The House has voted more than 50 times to repeal ObamaCare since its passage five years ago. Next month’s vote will be the first time under Ryan’s leadership that the House will vote on a bill targeting ObamaCare — allowing the Speaker to check an important box for conservatives.