Rubio Won't Support Spending Bill Without Repeal of Obamacare

Sen. Marco Rubio says he will oppose a six-month government spending measure known as the continuing resolution unless it contains language that essentially repeals Obamacare by removing funding for the healthcare reform law.

Speaking on the nationally syndicated Hugh Hewitt radio program, the Florida Republican said he supports an amendment to the spending measure offered by fellow Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas that would defund the healthcare reform law passed in 2010 and upheld by the Supreme Court last year.

“If . . . we can pass [the amendment] onto a bill, I will vote for a continuing resolution,” he said. “Even if it’s temporary, because it does something permanent, and that is defund this healthcare bill, this Obamacare bill, that is going to be an absolute disaster for the American economy.”

Rubio added that he believes there is “probably nothing more damaging to our economy in the short term than this implementation of Obamacare.”

The House passed a $982 billion stopgap spending measure on Wednesday that would keep the federal government financed through Sept. 30, the end of fiscal year 2013. It would replace the current continuing resolution that expires on March 27.

The Senate is scheduled to consider the bill next week.