(Image Source: The New York Times)

BY ALANA YOUNG

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Senate Democrats said “no” to Republican efforts to repeal the nation’s mandatory healthcare law.
By a margin of four votes, the repeal was split along party lines.

Although the repeal was shot down, Republicans are celebrating a moral victory, and say they are pleased they kept their campaign promise to voters.

In a statement issued Wednesday, House speaker John Boehner says--

“The need for repeal continues to become more clear, whether it’s in the courts or the court of public opinion...The debate has just begun.”

The question remains: what will Republicans do now?

The Boston Globe reports Republicans will shift their focus to specific areas within the healthcare law, instead of replacing the entire legislation.

“Republicans are now forced to shift strategies and attack targeted sections of the health care law, seeking to dismantle it one piece at a time. In doing so, they will seek to keep the issue in the forefront of public debate well into the next election cycle.”

Keeping the healthcare debate in the forefront of American politics seems to be the key for the Republicans. But one anchor on CNN asks -- with the effort failed in the Senate -- is it a waste of time?

“Even though all 47 Republicans voted for repeal, not one Democrat crossed party lines to scrap health care law. A big majority of senators did agree to get rid of one part of the law that would have burdened with extra paperwork, but the rest of what opponents call Obamacare still stands.”

Forcing 2012 Democratic re-election candidates to pick a side on the health care law was one small step in a larger vision Republicans have for 2012. In an interview on Fox News, GOP Senator Lamar Alexander says reviving the debate was the key in this legislation.

MEGYN KELLY: “I can see politically how this is going to play out, because, you’ve got some of these Democrats who are going to vote against repeal, then they have to run for re-election, and if they’re in a district that favors repeal, that could come back to haunt them.”
SEN. LAMAR ALEXANDER (R-TN): “...this gives us a chance to renew the issue and remind people why we were right  when we said premiums will go up, you may lose your insurance, your medicare will be cut...”

So far, the courts seem split on the matter -- with federal district judges from Florida and Virginia ruling the individual mandate in the health care law unconstitutional -- but two federal judges upholding the law.

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