With one vote on Friday, the Republican-led House launched the latest spending battle in Congress -- one that could bring a government shutdown in less than two weeks. By a 230-189 tally almost strictly on party lines, the House passed a short-term government spending plan that would eliminate all funding for Obamacare. The measure now goes to the Democratic-led Senate, which is certain to reject the provision that defunds President Barack Obama's signature legislative achievement of his first term. Even though House Republicans now have voted 42 times to repeal or otherwise undermine Obamacare, Speaker John Boehner and fellow Republicans held a brief victory rally after Friday's action and challenged the Senate to follow their lead.
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President Obama says conservative Republicans holding the country hostage
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The GOP-led House passes a spending plan that defunds Obamacare
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Obama and Democrats reject the measure, setting up a budget showdown
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Without a new spending resolution, the government shuts down starting October 1
However, more moderate Republicans in the @placeholder-led Senate call the defunding effort a waste of time.
@placeholder would then have to decide whether to put it to a vote, even though that could undermine his already weakened leadership position by having the measure pass with only a few dozen moderate Republicans joining Democrats in support.