Amendments to health reform repeal filed by Dems to force vote

House Democrats on Wednesday filed four amendments to Republicans' healthcare reform repeal bill in a bid to force an up-or-down vote on popular patient protections in the bill.

The amendments seek to preserve: 

• The elimination of lifetime limits on care;

• The requirement that insurance plans allow young people up to age 26 to remain on their parents' healthcare policies;

• The ban on discrimination against people with preexisting conditions; and

• The provision of free preventive care for seniors.

Republican leaders have indicated they won't allow amendments.

"Most people believe this healthcare bill was litigated through the election," House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said Tuesday.

However Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), the lead sponsor of the amendments, said he and his 62 co-sponsors plan to petition the House Rules Committee on Thursday to accept their amendments.

"It's time to get beyond the rhetoric of the election and recognize that repealing this law would hammer middle class families and bust the budget," Welch said in a statement. "The American people deserve to see their representatives in the U.S. House vote up-or-down on critical protections for middle class families. I'm hopeful that the new leadership of the House honors their campaign promises and allow for a vote on each of these amendments."