Rep. John Katko (R-Camillus) was one of three House of Representative Republicans who voted this week against a bill that would repeal the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. Katko has said all along that he wouldn't vote for a full-scale repeal, unless there is an alternative to the sweeping health care law.
The congressman says Republican leadership was aware of how he would vote. In a statement following the vote, Katko said he was disappointed that the bill didn't provide a real solution to the rising costs of health care.
"In the course of my campaign I said that Obamacare is a mess. I think I used the word train wreck quite a bit -- and I still believe it."
The decision, says the congressman, goes back to his campaign -- when he promised note to vote to guy Obamacare unless Republicans offered a viable replacement. Katko says that doesn't mean he supports the health care law. Katko also suggests the future of the health care law be in the hands of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court will issue a ruling this spring on one part of the law.
"It deals with funding for Obamacare with the 31 states that don't have a state exchange. Now, if they don't have a state exchange, it comes from federal subsidies and there is some technical, legal stuff which pretty much -- you can't do that," Katko said. "That could be a fundamental change in Obamacare right there."
Katko says he does support other legislation that would turn back parts of the health care law, including repeal of a federal excise tax on medical device manufacturers.
This is the second time the congressman has broken with GOP leadership on a House vote.
