House Dems fundraise off GOP vote to repeal Obama healthcare law

Democrats are hoping to raise campaign funds from the House GOP’s second vote to repeal healthcare reform, launching a new call for donations just hours before the vote is scheduled to take place. 

Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.), who leads the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, called the vote a “stunt” backed by the billionaire Koch brothers, who have bankrolled many conservative causes.

{mosads}”Right-wing SuperPACs, big insurance companies, and the Tea Party base are all lined up to go on the attack against President Obama,” Israel wrote in an email to supporters.

“We have to continue going on offense and hold Republicans accountable for putting insurance company profits over the middle class.”

Donations, Israel wrote, would go to Democrats’ “Healthcare Rapid Response Fund.”

Americans for Prosperity, a conservative group closely aligned with the Tea Party, announced on June 29 that it launched a $9 million swing-state push against the law and President Obama. The organization is largely funded by brothers David and Charles Koch.

The group argues, along with congressional Republicans, that the healthcare law is a drag on an already weak economy.

Wednesday’s vote comes after more that 30 GOP attempts to repeal, defund or dismantle the healthcare law over the last two years. 

But repeal efforts are unlikely to move in the Senate, where Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has vowed to block any efforts to undo the president’s signature domestic achievement.

The House GOP vote is in response to the recent landmark Supreme Court ruling upholding the law 5-4 on June 28. The decision sparked a boost in fundraising for both opponents and backers of the law.

GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s campaign said they raised more than $4.6 million in the 24 hours after the ruling.