In its latest House vote to repeal Obamacare Thursday, two Democrats joined the Republicans, though the measure still fell 229-195.
It was the 37th attempt at repealing the Affordable Care Act, which forces most Americans to buy health insurance or pay a fine. But getting the two Democrats to come aboard was symbolic – especially in a week that has seen the White House under fire.
"It is a little bit of progress; we've obviously got a long way to go in persuading the other side of the aisle the merits of the repeal," Rep. Peter Roskam, R-Ill., tells Newsmax TV.
Though many Democrats dismissed the importance of the two Democratic votes, Roskam said he wouldn't be overly optimistic if he were in their shoes.
"If I were a leading Democrat today, I would be worried about one thing, and that is the high expectation that was created with the massage of Obamacare and actually the very low result that has been delivered up to the American public."
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Obama told the public they'd get to keep their doctors and the costs of premiums would be cut $2,500 a year. Neither has turned out to be true, Roskam said, and the cost to the average family may actually rise $3,000 a year.
On the IRS scandal, Roskam called the dismissal of acting Commissioner Steven Miller "marginal progress at best." Still unknown, he said, is how the culture was created that allowed conservative groups to be targeted for extra review when applying for tax-exempt status.
The Ways and Means Committee has primary jurisdiction over the IRS and will conduct hearings, but other committees also have authority and, just like in the Benghazi probe, will add to the investigation, Roskam tells Newsmax. "More eyes and more inquiries is a good thing," he said.
In the wake of the scandal, Roskam doesn't believe IRS can handle assuring compliance with Obamacare.
"They're poised to have 16,000 new people moving into that organization, an organization whose credibility is tainted, an organization that is now going to be entrusted with an incredible amount of personal information, health information from individuals all across this country. No, they're not equipped," he said.
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