House votes to delay parts of health care law

(AP)—The Republican-led House has voted to delay two core provisions of President Barack Obama's health care law.

The House voted 264-161 on Wednesday to postpone the requirement that businesses provide health coverage for their workers for one year or pay a penalty. It codifies what the Obama administration announced earlier this month.

The White House insisted that the House bill was unnecessary.

The House also 251-174 to delay the requirement that individual Americans obtain health coverage.

The votes marked the 38th time that the House has tried to eliminate, defund or scale back the law. The legislation stands no chance in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

Emboldened Republicans seized on the White House delay of the so-called employer mandate as a clear sign the law is unworkable.