Speaker of the House John Boehner (R,, Ohio) and other top Republicans announced they would pass a bill delaying Obamacare's individual mandate and the law's exemption for members of Congress Monday at a brief press conference.
"We believe that everyone should be treated fairly, so we're going to move in the next several hours to take the Senate bill, add to it a one-year delay of the individual mandate on the American people and get rid of the exemption for members of Congress," Boehner said. "It's a matter of fairness for all Americans."
House Majority Leader Rep. Eric Cantor (R., Va.) added it was a matter of no one in America receiving special treatment.
"We all live under the laws equally applied," he said.
Boehner added that a clean continuing resolution was off the table:
JOHN BOEHNER: We've spent the last hour and a half meeting with our members. That's pretty clear what our members want is fairness for the American people. The president provided a one-year delay of the employer mandate. He's provided exceptions for unions and others. There's even an exception for members of Congress. We believe that everyone should be treated fairly, so we're going to move in the next several hours to take the Senate bill, add to it a one-year delay of the individual mandate on the American people and get rid of the exemption for members of Congress. It's a matter of fairness for all Americans.
ERIC CANTOR: The House is going to take a position today reflecting one very fundamental principle that our country stands for: No special treatment for anyone. As the Speaker indicated, this administration, this president has provided special treatment and carve-outs and exceptions under Obamacare for big business, for special interest, and yes, it has provided a carve-out for members of Congress. Our position is very clear. No special treatment for anyone. We all live under the laws equally applied.
KEVIN MCCARTHY: Very short and simple today, we'll pass a bill that funds government. So the question will rest with Harry Reid, just two questions, will he treat individual Americans the same as he wants to treat big business? Secondly, does he want special treatment? We say no. We have to live within the law.
CATHY MCMORRIS RODGERS: Each of the 232 Republicans in the House were elected by the people from their districts. We listened to the people that we represent, and we have a responsibility to act on their behalf, and we continue to hear this story of the impact of this law, on individuals, on families, and the action that we're taking in the House is one that reflects the concerns that we continue to hear back home. And yes, this president, he's issued all kind of waivers, he's issued the delay of the employer mandate, he's come up with a ruling for members of Congress and their staff, and what we're going to do is we're going to stand and say, for individuals, this mandate should be delayed, and for members of Congress and their staff, this should also be delayed. It's what's good for America.
REPORTER: Mr. Speaker, some of your own Republicans say they're not going to vote for this because it's a recipe for a shutdown. Do you think you have the votes?
BOEHNER: Well, I'll let McCarthy talk about votes. We're confident that this issue will pass. This is a matter of funding the government and providing fairness to the American people. Why wouldn't members of Congress vote for it?
REPORTER: Is the clean CR off the table? Is that not going to happen?
BOEHNER: That's not going to happen.
REPORTER: Mr. Speaker, is it not going happen tonight before midnight, or it's not going to happen ever?
BOEHNER: The House will act this evening and we'll send it over to the United States Senate. Thanks.