Obama vetoes Affordable Care Act repeal bill

President Barack Obama has vetoed the bill repealing large swaths of the Affordable Care Act, wasting little time making good on his promise to challenge a legislative threat to his signature healthcare law.

The bill, which easily passed the House of Representatives Wednesday after clearing the Senate in December, would have unraveled key ACA provisions such as the individual health insurance mandate, the employer mandate and Medicaid expansion.

"Rather than refighting old political battles by once again voting to repeal basic protections that provide security for the middle class, members of Congress should be working together to grow the economy, strengthen middle-class families and create new jobs," Obama wrote in his veto message.

The president's move is unlikely to surprise Republicans, who have acknowledged the bill was not expected to get past the White House. The bill's passage through Congress, however, provided a legislative template for an ACA repeal should the GOP win the 2016 presidential election. Veto Message