Republican U.S. Senate candidate Matt Bevin is criticizing House Speaker John Boehner, R-Oh., and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., for not taking the lead on de-funding President Obama's health care law.The pressure comes a day after Boehner told House Republicans he does not support threats to shut down the federal government over Obamacare.In an earlier letter signed by 80 GOP House members, including Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., conservative lawmakers urged House leadership to reject any spending bill that funds the new health care law.Bevin has been appealing to Kentucky conservatives in his bid against McConnell in next year's primary election that this is another example of McConnell not doing enough to stand up against the president."As the leader of the Republican Party, Sen. McConnell should be leading the charge to de-fund Obamacare not retreating with his tail between his legs," says Bevin. "Kentucky voters have a right to know: Will Mitch McConnell join Rand Paul, Mike Lee and Ted Cruz in fighting for taxpayers or will he join Speaker Boehner in caving to President Obama?"But just this week, Paul stood with McConnell in Kentucky to say shutting down the federal government over Obamacare was a "dumb idea."Watch:"Like Rand Paul, Matt Bevin is not trying to shut down the government," says Bevin campaign spokeswoman Sarah Durand. "He is trying to defund Obamacare. Like Rand Paul, Matt supports Mike Lee's efforts to exclude funding for Obamacare in the September funding legislation. Why isn't Mitch McConnell standing with Matt Bevin and Rand Paul?"Jousting with Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, who praised the law on Thursday, McConnell spoke out against Obamacare at the annual state fair breakthis week, saying it increases the costs of health insurance premiums and hurts jobs. McConnell has stood firmly against the idea of defunding Obamacare through the spending bill process, however.And the Bevin campaign points out McConnell said he liked parts of the health care law in an interview just last week.
