Showing he will maintain the status quo without a fight, congressional challenger Lee Hawkins today criticized U.S. Rep. Tom Graves' legislation that de-funds ObamaCare saying it was "political motivated."
H.R. 5882, which is Rep. Graves' first piece of legislation, would de-authorize appropriation of funds to carry out the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. These two bills make up ObamaCare, the Democrat health care bill that became law earlier this year.
The Gainesville Times reported Thursday Hawkins said, "I think it's definitely politically motivated. Without a Republican Congress, it's not going to go through. We all know that."
"I don't know what Lee thinks we are doing up here," said Rep. Graves. "We are fighting an overreaching, overbearing, over taxing, intrusive federal government and ObamaCare is just the beginning. I don't care who the Speaker is or who controls Congress, I will fight with every fiber of my being against this boondoggle of a bill. I will continue to provide leadership and solutions despite his opposition."
Rep. Graves said North Georgia should be concerned with Hawkins' criticism of his efforts to de-fund ObamaCare but not be surprised since Hawkins refused to sign a pledge to repeal Obama health care bill for months.
The Congressman just shrugged off Hawkins' criticism.
"We have philosophical policy disagreements up here in Washington every day," said Rep. Graves. "Normally it is just with the liberal Democrats and I guess Lee is joining in their efforts. I'm proud that my conservative colleagues are joining me in this effort rather than surrendering like Lee," said Graves.
Georgia U.S. Reps. Jack Kingston, Lynn Westmoreland, Tom Price, Paul Broun and Phil Gingrey all joined Rep. Graves as original co-sponsors. Reps. Price, Broun and Gingrey are all physicians.
The legislation currently has 19 co-sponsors and is growing daily.
"It's unfortunate that Lee stands alone against the positive solutions that we've put forward. While at the same time, we receive phone calls and emails from constituents thanking us for proposing bold, conservative initiatives. The 9th District would be better off if he'd join in our efforts to get this country back on track rather than serve as an impediment," added Rep. Graves.
Rep. Graves' legislation says, "Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148), the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-152), and any amendment made by either such Act."
The Republican lawmaker said it is a three prong effort to push back ObamaCare. There is a De-fund, Repeal and Replace effort. Rep. Graves is the lead sponsor of the de-funding legislation, and co-sponsor of the repeal and replace bills.
Rep. Graves and Hawkins will face each other one last time on August 10th. Rep. Graves has been the top vote getter in all three previous elections and finished first in the July 20th GOP Republican Primary receiving 49.5 percent of the vote. He took a commanding 22.8 percent lead over Hawkins going into the August 10th run-off election.