The Senate stopped the House's bid to repeal the healthcare reform law but approved a measure to end a tax-reporting requirement in the law, which is expected to be signed by President Obama, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.
On a party-line vote, the Democrat-controlled Senate voted 51-47 against repeal of the whole law, but repeal efforts have already moved to the courts, following the recent decision of a federal judge in Florida to overturn the whole law. The Obama administration is appealing that decision, which is expected to reach the Supreme Court in a year or two.
Wisconsin and Florida are interpreting the Florida' judge's decision "as a license to treat the law as if it no longer exists," the Journal wrote. However, other states among the 26 plaintiffs in the lawsuit have not changed their implementation strategy.
The tax-reporting measure passed the Senate in a bipartisan vote of 81 to 17. The GOP-dominated House and President Obama also support repeal of the measure. The provision could be very burdensome to small businesses such as surgery centers and physicians offices. It requires companies to fill out 1099 forms to report payments of as little as $600 from any vendor, starting in 2012.
Read the Wall Street Journal report on healthcare reform.
Read more coverage on efforts to repeal the whole law and the tax-reporting measure:
- House Passes Repeal of Reform Law, Hearings Are Next Step
- For First Time, Judge Strikes Down Entire Reform Law
- New Bill Would Repeal Tax-Reporting Mandate in Reform Law
On a party-line vote, the Democrat-controlled Senate voted 51-47 against repeal of the whole law, but repeal efforts have already moved to the courts, following the recent decision of a federal judge in Florida to overturn the whole law. The Obama administration is appealing that decision, which is expected to reach the Supreme Court in a year or two.
Wisconsin and Florida are interpreting the Florida' judge's decision "as a license to treat the law as if it no longer exists," the Journal wrote. However, other states among the 26 plaintiffs in the lawsuit have not changed their implementation strategy.
The tax-reporting measure passed the Senate in a bipartisan vote of 81 to 17. The GOP-dominated House and President Obama also support repeal of the measure. The provision could be very burdensome to small businesses such as surgery centers and physicians offices. It requires companies to fill out 1099 forms to report payments of as little as $600 from any vendor, starting in 2012.
Read the Wall Street Journal report on healthcare reform.
Read more coverage on efforts to repeal the whole law and the tax-reporting measure:
- House Passes Repeal of Reform Law, Hearings Are Next Step
- For First Time, Judge Strikes Down Entire Reform Law
- New Bill Would Repeal Tax-Reporting Mandate in Reform Law