House to vote on repealing Obama's health-care law

WASHINGTON (AP) — The new Republican-led House is poised to deliver an emphatic thumbs-down to President Barack Obama's landmark health-care overhaul, with no ready substitute of its own.

The House vote today could turn out to be the high-water mark for repeal, a goal that energized conservative voters in the midterm elections and helped Republicans return to power in Congress. Democrats, who hung on to the Senate, have vowed to block the GOP drive.

But House Republicans say not to underestimate their determination or their willingness to use parliamentary maneuvers to deny the Obama administration funds needed to carry out the law.

"Our vote to repeal is not merely symbolic," said freshman Rep. Nan Hayworth, R-N.Y., an ophthalmologist. "It respects the will of the American people. And it paves the way to reform our health care."