What Rehberg is Promising

by: Matt Singer

Thu Jan 20, 2011 at 21:43:04 PM MST

"I'm going to fulfill my promise to the people of Montana, that to the best of my ability I will defund Obamacare if we're not able to repeal it," Rehberg said in a telephone news conference.

Democratic lawmakers tell The Huffington Post that they increasingly expect Republicans to try and freeze funding for the health care law. Such an attempt would face the same institutional hurdles as a straight repeal vote: a non-compliant Senate and a president wielding a veto pen. But whereas the repeal bill's death would mean -- in practical political terms -- absolutely nothing, the inability to pass an appropriations bill could have far-reaching effects.

"They are potentially setting up a situation where they will bring government, all of government, to a screeching halt," Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) said Wednesday. "Not because of the debt ceiling. This is beyond the debt ceiling ... If they think they are going to have the end game of their appropriations bills be that they drive health care reform into an early grave ... they are literally setting up a full stop for almost everything we will possibly do this year."

"I am real concerned," Rep. Charlie Gonzalez (D-Texas) said. "We do operate on yearly budgets that could exact great harm if they are dedicated to that proposition. You still have to work with the Senate. So what happens when you reach that kind of impasse? We have this gridlock ... There is no doubt in my mind that the Republican leadership ... has already charted a course. They are very disciplined and very good at what they do."

Americans for Limited Government interviews and promotes Denny Rehberg and his efforts to set up this showdown.

Look, I'd feel better about this if Rep. Rehberg ever indicated he had any idea what was in the health care bill. Pogie catches him making up more shit today abut the law. This stuff is just infuriating.