President Barack Obama dared Republicans on Thursday to try to repeal his newly signed healthcare reform but warned that their effort would backfire as he touted the measure’s benefits.

“If they want to have that fight, I welcome that fight,” Obama said in prepared remarks for delivery in Iowa in his first big speech since enacting the most sweeping new U.S. social policy in decades.

“I don’t believe the American people are going to put the insurance industry back in the driver’s seat. We’ve been there already and we’re not going back,” he said.

“Well, I say go for it,” Obama said, goading his critics. “If these congressmen in Washington want to come here to Iowa and tell small business owners that they plan to take away their tax credits and essentially raise their taxes, be my guest.”

Continue reading this article over at Reuters.