Next healthcare repeal vote is for new Congressmen, Boehner says

WASHINGTON, May 9 (UPI) -- Another House vote to repeal the healthcare reform law will give new lawmakers a chance to weigh in on the issue, House Speaker John Boehner said Thursday.

Although nearly 40 votes have been held since the law was passed, Boehner, R-Ohio, said of the upcoming vote, scheduled for next week: "We've got 70 new members who have not had an opportunity to vote on the president's healthcare law. Obamacare is going to drive up the cost of healthcare. It is going to drive up the cost of health insurance and make it harder for small businesses to hire workers."

Boehner admitted the law is unlikely to be repealed, but added, "I'm going to do everything I can to make sure we don't wreck the best healthcare delivery system the world has ever known."

Boehner made the remarks during a press availability.

White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Texas the plan to vote "just demonstrates again how out of touch [Republicans] are with the American people, who are tired of efforts by Republicans to re-fight the political battles of the past.

"I've lost count, but I think the House has scheduled -- the House Republicans has scheduled a vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act for something like the 40th time next week," Carney said. "It didn't work 39 times prior; it won't work the 40th time."