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Sen. Ayotte on future of health care law

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    What happens after House vote?

  • Duration 5:05
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Fox News alert as we mentioned earlier house Republicans are moving closer toward another vote to repeal the health care overhaul.

Republican leaders are calling today's -- -- rejection of an unpopular law saying it would block attacks on the middle class.

The question is if it passes the house and it is it is assumed it isn't it will what happens in the senate.

Let's talk about that now with the New Hampshire senator Kelly -- day off their Republican on the Senate Budget Committee.

The house has passed a number of them rejections -- appeals of the health care law they've gone nowhere in the senate.

What happens to this one senator.

Well I think unfortunately -- Harry Reid will block.

The ability -- this to go forward in the senate and we don't have enough votes right now among Republicans.

That all Republicans will vote to repeal and replace it but Harry Reid will -- -- vote on that.

But this is a very important vote for the house and and you think about this health care bill.

Essentially it's driving health care costs in the wrong direction people can't afford it.

It's less choice for individuals and it's hurting our economy you know I -- -- restaurant owner tell me in New Hampshire he wants to open another restaurant.

But he's not gonna do it because he's worried that he'll exceed the fifty employees and you just can't afford it -- this health care law.

As you know senator a lot of Americans are cynical about the work of congress and congress' popularity ratings are down around the 910%.

Level.

Some people say that having the house spin -- wheels and pass another rejection of health care when it's not gonna go anywhere in the senate.

Is a waste of time what do you say.

Well I think that certainly the Democrats in the house should have to reaffirm that they are for -- tax increase on the middle class.

And we have formed their support for this bill now that they know the Supreme Court has found it to be -- -- the individual mandate.

But we also know that there's a whole host of other taxes and that -- that are gonna make health care less affordable so I do you think this is an important.

A vote for the American people to know where people stand.

If the senate were to vote on it are you confident that that the law would be upheld in other words might there be a democratic defector or two who might vote no.

Well you know I -- even if there were some defectors and you know I hope there would be because I think people have made their voices very loud the American people that they don't like this bill they.

They see it as wrong.

Way to go forward in addressing health care for America and so maybe they would lose some votes in that it might be another reason why Harry Reid would want to go to this.

Talking about loud voices you have been one of those critics of the sequestration.

Is up 500 billion dollar cut.

To the Pentagon budget that is coming up in January.

When it was -- Asked as a way to get the debt ceiling raised everybody thought you know it certainly couldn't happen because it was so absurd well now.

January is not that far away and it is looking like sequestration could be a real possibility is that going to happen.

John it's deeply troubling I've been working on this issue and as secretary -- -- secretary defensive said it would be like shooting ourselves in the head.

-- deeply troubling for our national security and then also jobs.

Because we've had major defense employers including Lockheed.

Say they're gonna have to issue layoff notices to.

Over you know thousands of employees in this country could impact over a million jobs.

So I'm hopeful that we will get this resolved before the elections because we can't put our national security at risk.

I voted against that deal from the beginning because I didn't think it was the right way to move forward in addressing our -- we've got to address our debt.

We shouldn't create a national security crisis on top of our fiscal crisis.

One more question for you we couldn't help but notice that you spent much of the fourth of July with -- governor Mitt Romney -- he was campaigning there.

You have been discussed as a potential running mate for mr.

Romney.

Would you take that job if offered and and where does it stand right now.

Well John it was certainly a great fourth of July parade in wolf borrow it we admit and and then they got a great response.

I'm really focused on these issues that we just talked about.

And I can tell you that when governor Romney is elected president he's gonna need people like me in the senate.

To get our country on the right track in dealing with our -- in our economy so that's where my -- -- and and really on this issue is I'm flattered to be mentioned but I I ever I.

Enjoy representing and think it's a privilege to represent New Hampshire in the senate you said when he's elected you're confident he'll win.

I am.

The American people have had a choice in this.

Election it's a very clear choice you can either go down the road of President Obama with higher taxes.

Things like obamacare -- last choice and also greater debt or we can get on the right track of fiscal responsibility.

Getting our economy moving and -- really more choices for the American people.

New Hampshire senator Kelly -- -- Republican and member of the -- Budget Committee senator thank you.

Thank you.

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