WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans cleared a hurdle Friday in their first attempt to scrap President
Barack Obama's landmark health care overhaul, yet it was little more than a symbolic swipe at the law.
The real action is in states, where Republicans are using federal courts and governors' offices to lead the assault against Obama's signature domestic achievement, a law aimed at covering nearly all Americans.
In a post-election bow to tea partiers by the new GOP House majority, Republican lawmakers are undertaking an effort to repeal the health care law in full knowledge that the Democratic Senate will stop them from doing so.
Republicans prevailed Friday in a 236-181 procedural vote, largely along party lines, that sets the stage for the House to vote next week on the repeal.
