RALEIGH, N.C. — A group known as the "Tea Party Express" protested the Affordable Care Act in Raleigh Wednesday.
The group gathered outside the Sheraton Raleigh to encourage Congress to oppose any spending bill that includes funding for the health care law. Among those in attendance was Greg Brannon, a Republican running to unseat Democratic U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan.
There is a difference of opinion about the law across the North Carolina congressional delegation, and it has become a partisan sticking point as Congress considers a continuing resolution for federal funding.
Fourth District Congressman David Price, a Democrat, said he wants to fund it.
Republican 13th District Congressman George Holding issued a statement Wednesday saying he approves of stalling federal funding so long as the law is included.
"'Obamacare' should be repealed and replaced with patient-centered health care reform," Holding said. "We should do whatever we can to prevent its implementation including leveraging the continuing resolution.”
Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-5th, was even more adamant in her opposition to the health care law. “Anything short of full repeal will be incapable of stopping Obamacare and its largely mandatory funding streams," she said.
6th District Congressman Howard Coble said his vote on a spending bill would not be decided by the presence of the health care law in the bill.
He and Holding added their signatures to an Aug. 21 letter to congressional Republican leaders that said, in part, "We should continue our efforts to repeal 'Obamacare' in its entirety this year, next year and until we are successful."
"Congress should not play political games with keeping the government running," Hagan said. She supports funding the Affordable Care Act.
