Lawmakers, Aides May Get Obamacare Exemption

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.

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.

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.

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“Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and/or Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and/or Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States”.

The 16th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.

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The Prof said:

politico's top story last nite



Lawmakers, aides may get Obamacare exemption - John Bresnahan and Jake Sherman - POLITICO.com

even to consider such a thing...

and they've gone a lot further than mere reflection

in total secrecy

for months

minority whip steny hoyer is the leader of the push

uber lib henry waxman from southern CA his fittest foe

reminds me of anthony weiner, of all people, princeps of single payer, pleading for an exemption for, of all places, nyc

Anthony Weiner: Waiver might work for New York - Kate Nocera - POLITICO.com

the wannabe mayor, by the way, made the headlines this morning

Anthony Weiner can't say if other pics exist - POLITICO.com

when is enough enough?

Click to expand...

The Prof said:

politico's top story last nite

Lawmakers, aides may get Obamacare exemption - John Bresnahan and Jake Sherman - POLITICO.com

even to consider such a thing...

and they've gone a lot further than mere reflection

in total secrecy

for months

minority whip steny hoyer is the leader of the push

uber lib henry waxman from southern CA his fittest foe

reminds me of anthony weiner, of all people, princeps of single payer, pleading for an exemption for, of all places, nyc

Anthony Weiner: Waiver might work for New York - Kate Nocera - POLITICO.com

the wannabe mayor, by the way, made the headlines this morning

Anthony Weiner can't say if other pics exist - POLITICO.com

when is enough enough?

Click to expand...

azgreg said:

It's time for the 28th Amendment.

28th Amendment

Proposed 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution:

Click to expand...

The Prof said:

politico's top story last nite



Lawmakers, aides may get Obamacare exemption - John Bresnahan and Jake Sherman - POLITICO.com

even to consider such a thing...

and they've gone a lot further than mere reflection

in total secrecy

for months

minority whip steny hoyer is the leader of the push

uber lib henry waxman from southern CA his fittest foe

reminds me of anthony weiner, of all people, princeps of single payer, pleading for an exemption for, of all places, nyc

Anthony Weiner: Waiver might work for New York - Kate Nocera - POLITICO.com

the wannabe mayor, by the way, made the headlines this morning

Anthony Weiner can't say if other pics exist - POLITICO.com

when is enough enough?

Click to expand...