WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 28: Susan Clark argues with a another protester about the Affordable Healthcare Act outside the U.S. Supreme Court on June 28, 2012 in Washington, DC. The Court found the law to be constitutional and did not strike down any part of it. (Photo by Kris Connor/Getty Images)
By David Jackson, USA TODAY
Republicans are redoubling their vow to repeal President Obama's health care law, while Democrats point out the legislative hurdles of such a task.
"The American people will have the final decision," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., today on Fox News Sunday, less than a week after the Supreme Court upheld the health care law.
House Republicans have set a repeal vote for July 11, but House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., noted that it won't mean much because Democrats still control the Senate.
Speaking on NBC's Meet the Press, the California Democrat said the GOP wants to reverse a law that will help millions with "lower rates, better quality care and better access" to health care.
"So that's what they want to repeal," Pelosi said. "We're happy to have that debate."
Even after the November elections, Republicans would need a filibuster-proof Senate -- at least 60 of the 100 seats -- to make major changes to the health care law.
McConnell said the law will be more expensive and more cumbersome than expected, and people will demand changes. He called the existing law "the single worst piece of legislation passed in modern times."
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, appearing on CBS' Face the Nation, said popular provisions of the law -- such as allowing children to stay on their parents' health insurance plans until age 26 -- can be incorporated into an overall revamping of health care policy.
The Supreme Court's decision to uphold has only strengthened the Republicans' desire "to repeal this awful law," Boehner said. He said, "Obamacare will bankrupt our country."
White House Chief of Staff Jack Lew, also on Fox, said now that the high court has spoken, "we should get in implementation" of the health care law, and turn the government's focus toward creating jobs.
USA TODAY