U.S. House to vote next week to block health funds

WASHINGTON (Reuters)—The House will vote on whether to block funding for the health care reform law when it takes up a budget plan next week, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., said Tuesday.

"I expect to see one way or other the product coming out of the House to speak to that and to preclude any funding to be used for that," Rep. Cantor said at a news conference, referring to an effort to block implementation of the health care law.

House Republicans aim to pass a spending measure next week that would immediately cut at least $32 billion from the government's $3.7 trillion budget in an effort to trim record budget deficits.

Republican lawmakers are expected to unveil details of the spending-cut package on Thursday ahead of a wide-ranging debate on the House floor next week.

Rep. Cantor did not say whether the cuts needed to block the health care law would be included in that package or offered in a separate amendment, but he said the final version that passes the House will include that language.

The measure is not likely to get past the Democratic-controlled Senate, which has already rejected a stand-alone effort to repeal the health care law.