White House says GOP proved ‘nothing’ with Obamacare repeal

The White House belittled congressional Republicans’ efforts Thursday to repeal Obamacare, saying President Obama will veto the legislation without fanfare.

“They succeeded in a victory that amounts to absolutely nothing,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest said of the GOP. “The president will veto this bill, they know that, they also know they don’t have the votes to override it.”

Asked what lawmakers accomplished by sending a repeal bill to the president’s desk for the first time, Mr. Earnest replied, “Nothing.”

Mr. Earnest said the veto, which could come later Thursday, will be done without “any sort of pomp and circumstance.”

The legislative package rolls back the Affordable Care Act and strips federal funding for Planned Parenthood. The House passed the measure Wednesday on a mostly party-line vote of 240-181.

Republican leaders said the move was a victory despite Mr. Obama’s pending veto.

“Now, is someone named Obama going to sign a bill into law repealing Obamacare? Of course not,” said Speaker Paul Ryan, Wisconsin Republican. “But we have now demonstrated that, if we elect a Republican president, we can use this same path to repeal Obamacare without 60 votes in the Senate.”