WASHINGTON, July 10 (UPI) -- Republicans said Wednesday they'll try to defund and delay in the Senate Appropriations Committee Obamacare provisions requiring individuals to buy insurance.
Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., said he will present several anti-Obamacare amendments Thursday, when the Appropriations Committee is scheduled to discuss its annual Health and Human Services Department spending bill, The Hill reported.
The amendments would prohibit HHS from requiring most taxpayers to purchase insurance or pay a penalty, which would accompany the Democrats' delay until 2015 of the requirement for large employers to provide health insurance for their employees, the Washington publication said.
"Delaying the impact of the business mandate ought to be accompanied by a delay in the individual mandate," Moran said.
While Democrats would be reluctant to support a delay in the individual mandate because it would hamper efforts to have core Obamacare provisions in place by the beginning of next year, Democrat votes against the individuals' delay would point up the GOP's charge that the administration wants to give a break to businesses but not to individuals, The Hill reported.
"Rather than a partial delay for some, America needs a permanent delay for all," said Sen. John Thune, R-S.D.
