Charlie Dent, Brian Fitzpatrick vote against measure kicking off Obamacare repeal process

Jan. 14--The U.S. House voted Friday on the first of many steps involved in dismantling Obamacare, setting up a complex process in which lawmakers will draft bills undoing specific parts of the health care law.

U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent, R-15th District, split from his GOP colleagues, casting a "no" vote Friday in the 227-198 tally.

Dent has voted before to repeal Obamacare, but continues to have concerns about how it's done. In interviews, Dent has said he has "serious reservations" about beginning to undo the health care law without a detailed replacement plan in hand.

While there are various ideas for how an Obamacare alternative might work, and how those who now rely on it for health coverage would be transitioned to a new system, Republicans have yet to put forward a specific replacement proposal.

"I voted against the health care law when it was first enacted back in 2010 for a whole host of reasons," Dent said, adding that as Friday's vote approached, "I was very clear with our leadership that before we get in this plane and launch, we better have a good idea of where we're going to land."

Dent said Republicans' replacement plan has not yet been "fully developed or well-articulated, and we must develop that prior to initiating this process." He said parts of the law should be repealed, others replaced, and some need to be maintained, like allowing those under the age of 26 to stay on their parents' insurance and protecting those with pre-existing conditions.

In addition to Dent, other moderate House Republicans and a number of conservative legislators also had voiced concerns about wanting to see a more detailed plan before acting. Eight other Republicans joined Democrats in opposing the Friday's vote, including U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-8th District.

"Too much of the debate surrounding the ACA has been on buzz words and slogans: repeal, defund, delay, replace, fix, reform," Fitzpatrick said in a statement, adding that the discussion going forward about changes "must ensure both the continuity of coverage and the continuity of patient protection provisions, and should be undertaken in a bipartisan fashion."

U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, R-11th District, voted "yes" on the budget resolution, which will protect the bills that will be drafted to repeal the law from a Democratic filibuster in the Senate. Democratic U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, 17th District, voted against the measure.

lolson@mcall.com

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