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Health care repeal vote to open a political year in Congress

Posted at 12:58 PM, Jan 02, 2016
and last updated 2016-01-02 13:15:20-05

WASHINGTON (AP) — This will be the year when Republicans finally put legislation on President Barack Obama’s desk repealing his health care law.

It’s the first order of business when the House reconvenes this coming week. And it’s a sharply partisan start on Capitol Hill to an election year in which legislating may take a back seat to politics.

Obama will veto the health law repeal, which also would cut money for Planned Parenthood.

But Republicans say that will highlight the clear choice voters face in the presidential election.

In the Senate, early action will be a vote on Sen. Rand Paul’s proposal for an “audit” of the Federal Reserve. That’s likely to get blocked by Democrats.

But as with the House’s health bill, it will answer conservative demands in an election year.