Boehner to rank-and-file: Don't spike the ball if ObamaCare overturned

The Supreme Court could release its ruling on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act as soon as Monday, but House Speaker John Boehner says no matter what happens the GOP conference will remain focused on the economy.

"If the Court strikes down all or part of the president's health care law," Boehner said in a memo sent to Republican House members Thursday, "there will be no spiking of the ball."

He added that the measure has contributed to a sluggish economy and that repealing any parts of the legislation not struck down by the Court is part of a strategy to get the nation back on track.

Boehner urged his colleagues to focus on what he called the critical points of the health care issue: that the law drives up costs, that Republicans need to enact step-by-step reforms and that the GOP won't rush to pass a massive health care bill that doesn't have popular support.

Democrats were quick to issue a memo in response, pointing out that several popular provisions of the bill, such as the prohibition on lifetime coverage limits and the ability for young people to stay on their parents' insurance until age 26 are already in effect.

This is the second set of guidelines sent to members of the House Republican Conference dealing with the upcoming Supreme Court decision. Earlier this month, House GOP offices received pamphlets detailing how they should plan for the deluge of phone calls and emails in the wake of Court's ruling at the end of this month.