Conservatives increase pressure on McConnell over health law funding

Aug 28 2013

Groups launch radio ads and a tour aimed at key Senate Republicans, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, in an effort to stop funding for the overhaul. Also, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., will speak at an anti-Obamacare Capitol Hill rally when Congress returns.

The Associated Press: Conservative Group Presses McConnell On Health Law
A conservative group is launching a radio ad challenging Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell to oppose any money for President Barack Obama's health care law even if it means triggering a government shutdown. The Senate Conservatives Fund is spending nearly $50,000 on the 60-second commercial that will begin airing on Tuesday in Kentucky, where McConnell is locked in a tough race for a sixth term. The GOP leader faces both a primary rival, businessman Matt Bevin, and a Democratic foe, Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes (Cassata, 8/26).

CNN: Defund Obamacare Supporters Target Top Republicans
Conservatives backing a move to shut down the federal government if funding isn't cut off for President Barack Obama's health care law by the end of September are launching a tour starting Tuesday to put pressure on leading Republicans in Congress. The first target of the push by Tea Party Patriots and ForAmerica is Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. The groups are planning a news conference in Lexington, Kentucky, Tuesday, near McConnell's offices (Steinhauser, 8/27).

Politico: Paul, Cruz Plan Anti-Obamacare Rally
Obamacare opponents are planning a defunding rally for the first day lawmakers return from August recess and just three weeks before millions can start enrolling in coverage. Republican Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Mike Lee of Utah), who have been leading calls in the Senate to defund the law in any spending bills, will headline the Sept. 10 Exempt America from Obamacare event, organized by Tea Party Patriots and ForAmerica, along with other conservative groups (Millman, 8/26).

The Hill: Cruz, Paul To Headline Rally Against Funding For Obamacare
Key proponents of a plan to allow a government shutdown rather than fund ObamaCare will bring their campaign back to Washington with a major rally next month. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) will speak at an event on Capitol Hill on Sept. 10, the day Congress returns from its summer recess (Viebeck, 8/26).

McClatchy: N.C. Republican Lawmakers At Odds Over Anti-Obamacare Strategy
Republicans in Congress are divided over whether to use the threat of a government shutdown to defund the president's health care law, and the split is nowhere more evident than in North Carolina. Some Republicans who have always opposed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and voted against it -- Sen. Richard Burr and Reps. Renee Ellmers of Dunn, Robert Pittenger of Charlotte and Patrick McHenry of western North Carolina -- oppose the shutdown threat (Schoof, 8/26).

The Associated Press: Cotton: Keep Health Care In Spending Debate
Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton on Monday said he believed the federal health care overhaul should be a part of budget negotiations this fall, but stopped short of saying he'd vote against spending measures that include funding for the 2010 law. Cotton, an Army veteran who is challenging Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor in Arkansas next year, also called for the United States to intervene in Syria over its alleged use of chemical weapons (DeMillo, 8/26).

The Associated Press: Dems, Conservatives Line Up On Health Care Fight
Supporters and opponents of the federal health care law brought their national battle to Indianapolis on Monday. Heritage Foundation President Jim DeMint was scheduled to rally conservatives against it Monday night, while the liberal Americans for United Change organized a Statehouse news conference to seek support for the law earlier in the day (LoBianco, 8/26).