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| Lawmakers, aides may get Obamacare exemption |
| 2013-04-25 |
| Congressional leaders in both parties are engaged in high-level, confidential talks about exempting lawmakers and Capitol Hill aides from the insurance exchanges they are mandated to join as part of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul, sources in both parties said. The talks — which involve Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), the Obama administration and other top lawmakers — are extraordinarily sensitive, with both sides acutely aware of the potential for political fallout from giving carve-outs from the hugely controversial law to 535 lawmakers and thousands of their aides. Discussions have stretched out for months, sources said. A source close to the talks says: “Everyone has to hold hands on this and jump, or nothing is going to get done.” Yet if Capitol Hill leaders move forward with the plan, they risk being dubbed hypocrites by their political rivals and the American public. By removing themselves from a key Obamacare component, lawmakers and aides would be held to a different standard than the people who put them in office. Democrats, in particular, would take a public hammering as the traditional boosters of Obamacare. Republicans would undoubtedly attempt to shred them over any attempt to escape coverage by it, unless Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) give Democrats cover by backing it. There is concern in some quarters that the provision requiring lawmakers and staffers to join the exchanges, if it isn’t revised, could lead to a “brain drain” on Capitol Hill, as several sources close to the talks put it. The problem stems from whether members and aides set to enter the exchanges would have their health insurance premiums subsidized by their employer — in this case, the federal government. If not, aides and lawmakers in both parties fear that staffers — especially low-paid junior aides — could be hit with thousands of dollars in new health care costs, prompting them to seek jobs elsewhere. Older, more senior staffers could also retire or jump to the private sector rather than face a big financial penalty. Plus, lawmakers — especially those with long careers in public service and smaller bank accounts — are also concerned about the hit to their own wallets. House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) is worried about the provision. The No. 2 House Democrat has personally raised the issue with Boehner and other party leaders, sources said. “Mr. Hoyer is looking at this policy, like all other policies in the Affordable Care Act, to ensure they’re being implemented in a way that’s workable for everyone, including members and staff,” said Katie Grant, Hoyer’s communications director. Several proposals have been submitted to the Office of Personnel Management, which will administer the benefits. One proposal exempts lawmakers and aides; the other exempts aides alone. When asked about the high-level bipartisan talks, Michael Steel, a Boehner spokesman, said: “The speaker’s objective is to spare the entire country from the ravages of the president’s health care law. He is approached daily by American citizens, including members of Congress and staff, who want to be freed from its mandates. If the speaker has the opportunity to save anyone from Obamacare, he will.” |
| Posted by:Beavis |
| #12 There is concern in some quarters that the provision requiring lawmakers and staffers to join the exchanges, if it isn't revised, could lead to a "brain drain" on Capitol Hill So, like, the average IQ on Capitol Hill would drop from "fern" to "single-cell organism"? |
| Posted by: Matt 2013-04-25 22:24 |
| #11 Speaker Boehner speaks up: In response to reports that congressional leaders from both parties are seeking exemptions from Obamacare, Speaker John Boehner's spokesman released the following statement.
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| Posted by: trailing wife 2013-04-25 22:23 |
| #10 Read it? I doubt it! Heard about it, maybe. Had their aides describe how the public hates it, perhaps. Got a few phone calls from small business owners and doctors? Possibly. |
| Posted by: Bobby 2013-04-25 18:15 |
| #9 It seems the lawmakers realize that O-Care isn't worth a plug nickle. They are a little slow coming to that realization. They must have finally gotten around to reading it after passing it. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2013-04-25 17:52 |
| #8 Zero chance of this. It's Democrat suicide, I suspect the Rethuglicans are trying to figure a way to get it to a vote and then leave the asses hanging, but the asses aren't that stupid. Good clean fun, American Politics style. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2013-04-25 17:33 |
| #7 "gives the appearance of a foreign entity holding office" Appearance, my ass! |
| Posted by: Barbara 2013-04-25 16:31 |
| #6 As a US Citizen, a person is both qualified for public office and to be taxed. To exempt oneself gives the appearance of a foreign entity holding office and creating laws which they can pick and choose which ones to be subject to. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2013-04-25 16:27 |
| #5 If they do exempt themselves, they have proven they no longer are fit for their office and need to be removed. (Although you think the passing of Obamacare would have been enough for that) |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2013-04-25 13:44 |
| #4 Quelle surprise! From the same people who've exempted themselves from insider trading regulations. In the next version of the Constitution under the subsection on the Legislative branch will be the prohibition to exempt themselves from laws and regulations they impose on the people. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2013-04-25 12:28 |
| #3 Heat the tar, pluck the fowl and stretch the ropes. |
| Posted by: Spanky Henbane9543 2013-04-25 12:19 |
| #2 Can't wait to see the 2014 political campaign ads if this passes. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2013-04-25 11:43 |
| #1 Time to move fast, while they are paralyzed with the "deer in the headlights" look: TIE THEM DOWN. ALLOW NO ESCAPE. They created the Obamacare-mack truck bearing down on them. Let them either get rid of it or be run over by it. |
| Posted by: Ptah 2013-04-25 11:31 |