GOP weekly address blasts health law

CNN: Republicans Talk Health Care, Obama Economy In Weekly Address
President Barack Obama advocated for his jobs package while Rep. Bill Cassidy argued against the health reform law as they stood by their parties' positions Saturday during their weekly addresses. Obama called on Congress to pass a transportation bill, expand access to college and fund infrastructure projects. Cassidy, a (Louisiana) Republican, argued that the health reform law signed by Obama in 2010 had an effect of "driving up health care costs, making it harder for small businesses to hire workers" (Wallace, 6/23).

USA Today: GOP: We'll Repeal 'Obamacare' If High Court Doesn't
A House Republican said Saturday his party would work to repeal President Obama's health care law if the Supreme Court upholds it next week. ... Cassidy, a doctor, said that if the GOP wins full control of Congress, it should repeal any existing parts of Obama's law, and replace it with a more gradual approach to health care policy. "It's now clear, if it wasn't already, that containing costs step-by-step -- not expanding government in one fell swoop -- is the right approach to health care reform," Cassidy said (Jackson, 6/23).

The Hill: GOP Promises To Rid Nation Of Healthcare Law
Republicans are using their weekly radio address to reiterate their promise to repeal President Obama's healthcare law. The address is timed for this week's decision by the Supreme Court, which is set to announce its ruling on the controversial law as early as Monday. ... One difficult issue for Republicans is that if the court does just strike down the mandate, repealing the rest of the law would eliminate some provisions that are popular, such as a provision requiring insurers to allow parents to keep their children on their insurance through the age of 26. Cassidy handled this issue by stressing that Republicans "would not repeat Democrats' mistakes." He said the party would not rush through a law to replace the existing healthcare law, and that the party would instead stay focused on jobs and the economy (Swanson, 6/23).

Politico Pro: GOP Calls On One Of Its Doctors For Final Pre-SCOTUS Blast
Republican leaders tapped Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), a physician, to bash President Barack Obama's health care law on the last GOP weekend address before the Supreme Court decides its fate. "Obamacare has turned out to be the wrong medicine for out-of-control health care costs," the Louisiana Republican said Saturday. "The law, as an example, is going to cost nearly twice as much as we were told, people are already paying more for their health care than they were before, and because of health insurance expenses, employers are canceling plans to expand their businesses, which is to say they will not be hiring new workers. With costs going up and too much uncertainty, this $2 trillion takeover will result in more people being pushed out of the plan they enjoy today" (DoBias, 6/23). 

Associated Press/BusinessWeek: Obama, Romney Seek Advantage On Health Care Ruling
President Barack Obama ardently defends his federal health care overhaul. Republican challenger Mitt Romney adamantly opposes it. But this coming week, when the Supreme Court rules on the constitutionality of the law, both sides will be scrambling for political gain no matter the outcome (Pacesteve Peoples, 6/23).