Washington, D.C. – Today, Idaho Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo voted against cloture on the House-passed Continuing Resolution (CR), saying they disagree with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nevada) intended procedural motion to strike provisions defunding Obamacare from the bill.  Risch and Crapo signed a letter led by Senators Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) vowing to stop Obamacare from being funded. 

“Every day we see more and more problems associated with Obamacare and its implementation and it is increasingly clear this law is wrong for America,” Risch said.  “Today I have voted once again, as I have since the beginning and each step of the way, to defund this abomination before it inflicts even greater pain on Idahoans.”

“Before the enactment of Obamacare, I was deeply concerned about the damage this legislation would inflict upon family incomes, jobs, and health care prices,” Crapo said.  “Since passage, I have been committed to delaying, defunding and repealing this damaging law.  The U.S. House of Representatives has done its job of passing a government funding bill that keeps the government open and gives Idaho families much-needed relief by defunding Obamacare, but I cannot support the legislative maneuvers by the Majority Leader that ensure funding for Obamacare continues.  The health care law has shown itself increasingly unworkable and unpopular with the public by raising costs, reducing health care choices for consumers and damaging the economy.”

Following Cloture being invoked, the Senate voted on the amendment to remove the Obamacare defunding language.  Risch and Crapo, along with all of their Republican colleagues voted against this amendment. 

Crapo added, “Idahoans, and people all across the United States, are communicating loudly and clearly that they do not support Obamacare.  Five votes are all that were needed today to maintain the defunding language that the House sent to the Senate.  While our efforts were not successful today, I will continue fighting to replace this law with workable, patient-centered, affordable health care legislation.”

Monday, the majority leader of the Senate filed Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to the House-passed CR.  Wednesday, the Senate voted to cut off debate on the Motion to Proceed with a vote of 100-0.  Wednesday evening, upon the Senate immediately agreeing to proceed to the resolution, the majority leader filed cloture on the underlying bill, blocking colleagues from filing amendments.  Today, the Senate voted on cloture on the CR, which was agreed to with a vote of 79-19.  Immediately following cloture being invoked, the Senate voted on the Majority Leader’s amendment to remove the Obamacare defunding provision, which was agreed to 54-44.

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