In their ongoing fight to repeal the Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as Obamacare, Republicans are considering one last dramatic effort; a government shutdown. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is urging his fellow Republicans to refuse to pass any budget related bill that doesn't explicitly prohibit funding for the health care reform law that has been in place for three years, according to Time.
"If we can actually get Republicans to stand up and fight," Cruz said. "I believe we can win this fight."
In an interview with Glenn Beck on TheBlaze radio show Cruz explained that he thinks Republicans are scared to take the necessary steps to actually repeal the health care reform law, according to Politico.
"What I can tell you is there are a lot of Republicans in Washington who are scared. They're scared of being beaten up politically," Cruz said. "I've been astonished by how many Republicans in Washington want a fig leaf....but they don't actually want to succeed."
Congress only has 61 days left to pass a budget for next year so Cruz doesn't have a lot of time to convince fellow conservatives that a government shutdown is in their best interest if they want to repeal Obamacare, according to the Houston Chronicle.
The idea of a government shutdown is supported by some of Cruz's colleagues including Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla, according to Politico. Other Republicans think the move would be a step too far, including House Deputy Whip Tom Cole, R-Okla.
"Shutting down the government is a suicidal political tactic," Cole said. "Eventually it will be reopened, but the president will not have capitulated and you will have discredited yourself and along the way you will have hurt the American people."
Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, agrees with Cole saying that those who want to shut down the government haven't properly thought things through. Boehner plans on continuing to attempt to repeal Obamacare one provision at a time. The speaker has already scheduled votes to require verification for health care subsidies and to eradicate funding streams for the law, according to Politico.
"The president is fond of saying these Obamacare votes are 'meaningless' - but I'd remind he's already signed seven bills repealing or delaying parts of the law," Boehner said. "This strategy is achievable. And it's our best shot at actually getting rid of Obamacare."
