The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives voted to repeal President Barack Obama’s healthcare reform law on Thursday in a symbolic move aimed as much at healing internal Republican rifts as demonstrating dogged party opposition to “Obamacare.”

The 229-195 vote occurred largely along party lines and marked the 37th time the House has voted to repeal or defund the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which is now in the final months before full implementation on January 1. Like previous attempts to dismantle the law, the measure will likely go nowhere in the Democratic-run Senate.

For Republicans, who hope to make Obamacare a winning campaign issue in the 2014 congressional midterm elections, the action gave House freshmen their first chance to vote against a law that is unpopular with a large number of voters, particularly conservatives in their districts back home.

“A full repeal is needed to keep this law from doing more damage to our economy and raising health care costs,” said House Speaker John Boehner at a press conference alongside a seven-foot, three-inch tall stack of paper labeled “Obama Regulations @theredtapetower”.

Democrats poked fun at the latest repeal vote.

“Apparently, the Republicans are opposed to Obamacare,” said Representative Steny Hoyer, the second-ranking House Democrat. “I know that comes as a shock to America, so we need to tell them one more time. Or 37 times, or maybe a 38th or a 39th or a 40th or a 100th time.”

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Courtesy Reuters.com