Latest health overhaul repeal petition gains GOP leadership backing

Politico: "Republicans are continuing to telegraph their opposition to health care reform by filing another petition that would force the House to vote on repealing the legislation. Rep. Wally Herger (R-Calif.) filed a discharge petition Tuesday that would get rid of the Democrats' health care reform and replace it with a Republican alternative. His push follows Rep. Steve King's (R-Iowa) petition to simply repeal the reform without replacing it with new legislation" (Aujla, 8/10).

The Hill: King's petition was notable for failing to attract GOP leadership support. But, Herger's petition "won't attract the same attention this time around: Both [Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio,] and [GOP whip Eric Cantor, R-Va.,] have already signed onto the Herger measure." Yet, "[s]ome conservatives have slammed GOP leadership for potentially dividing the Republican caucus over the issue" (Lillis, 8/10).