Lawmakers negotiating Obamacare exemption for themselves and their aides

Gentle readers, if the following report turns out to be the case, it shows the height of hypocrisy by US lawmakers -- particularly the Democrats. There are rumors that there are ongoing negotiations between the Democrats and the Republicans, led by representatives for Harry Reid and John Boehner respectively, to exempt US congress members and senators as well as their legislative aides from the Obamacare rules.

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.
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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.

Lawmakers, aides may get Obamacare exemption

Now to be fair, at least one congressman asked about this says that since health care for these persons is already subsidized by the US government, that no such exemption is necessary. But if it is true, it shows that Obamacare is an expensive sham, and that it will be the death knell for the current Democratic Party. In fact, it will actually make the Republican Party look better for having overwhelmingly been against it from the get go, although the GOP has provided no reasonable/realistic alternative plan to it.

If the Democrats agree to such a deal, it will show them to be spineless hypocrites who no longer deserve to be in office. It will also show what a corporate tool/flim-flam man Obama is. And I hope it will cause a progressive third party without corporate ties to emerge as an alternative for American voters/taxpayers.

What should have been legislated was single-payer healthcare, rather than this heath-insurance subsidization scam that Obamacare is. Senior citizens like their Medicare, and the US congress like their government-sponsored health plans, so let everyone else have the same. If the cost seems prohibitive, then cut the bloated defense budget and get rid of tax loopholes for the rich and corporations. For people who think this is socialism, it is sort of. But you know what country is a very successful quasi-socialist nation? Germany. I challenge anyone to make a coherent argument that the German economic model is not a good one to follow.

Related to this issue of the problem with the current political parties, I recommend everyone check out an interview of former Republican governor of Louisiana by Cenk Uygar. I'd provide the link, but there's a commercial at the beginning of the video, so I'm not sure I can do so. So google "Cenk Uygar Buddy Roemer interview" and follow your nose.

Roemer talks about his inability to have gotten into the presidential debates because he first wasn't pulling high enough and then didn't have enough campaign contributions. He won his governorship by means of his debate performances, having been outspent 8 or 10 to one in campaign money by his major opponents.

His contention is not that Washington is broken, but that it is bought. He speaks of an organization he is part of that is planning on fielding third-party candidates in the future, and makes the point that if 5 million Americans would donate $100 to the group, it would make a political impact in future elections.

Isn't it ironic?

Funny how the great health care overhaul, forced onto Americans I might add, isn't considered above board for those who developed and rammed the thing through.

We need a constitutional amendment in this country that puts a big vice on these politician's arses. I'd start with having their salaries reflect the average American income.

If you want a raise, please give one to everybody else first.

Make a career in government something that is undesirable. Career politicians only stay for the power and the money, not the representing of their countrymen.

If you can fix that, then all this entitlement nonsense, as in the article above, would fade away.

~Tenth

I read this piece on Politico this morning. It infuriated me and reminded me of medieval times when there were Lords and Serfs.
I did two things:
1. I wrote my congressman and asked him to explain this to me and asked where he stood on the topic.
2. I wrote a short editorial to my local newspaper highlighting this hypocrisy and asking people to contact their congressman to express their outrage.
Hey, I had to do something. Better than sitting here stewing about it.

See, they care SO MUCH about their constituents that they wouldnt want any of that awesome Obamacare not to make it to them.

They are all willing to refuse it so that others may live.

I say congressional medals of honor for the whole lot of them!!

Posthumously of course.

When people are going to learn that when it comes to the laws passed the by corruption we call government in the US is only for the slaves not the masters.

I knew this a long time ago.

didn't they try to exempt them selves from various aspects of the gun bills too?
lords up serf's down

should be serf's up you know

I was, and am still, in favor of "universal health care" but would prefer to see it set up with some "single payer" system. If I were smart enough I would try to explain how I felt this would be best.
When I read that the "Obama care" plan had been negotited with the big pharma and insurance companies I felt a pushing force in my back side. I said "yep we just goe IT shoved to us". Need I say more.

I like the idea of making public service less attractive. I would advocate for these "public servants" be housed in public housing and paid in food stamps. If someone really feels lead to serve the people they should not be treated any better than those they wish to help.
Of course, I am not dumb enough to think this will ever happen. Intirely because the ones who would have to make the changes are the same ones who already have the positions.

Wish I could be surprised about this news, then entity who's prime responsibility is to tackle the nation's budget, and hasn't done so in years, finds common ground to try and do away with a provision that they included to gain the necessary votes to pass the AHA...

I wonder how many businesses, are affected with the same challenges that Congress claims to be the impetus for repealing that provision? Life would be so much easier for them if only they had the keys to the car Congress does..

If they have been quietly, and bipartisanly working on this for months, it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when and how they sneak this repeal into an unrelated bill...

We can't have brain drain in DC can we? Wait a minute, I thought the elected were supposed to be the brains?

Another related piece here:

Congress, Fearing 'Brain Drain,' Seeks to Opt Out of Participating in Obamacare's Exchanges

As Obamacare was winding its way through the Senate in 2009, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R., Iowa) slipped in an amendment requiring that members of Congress, and their staff, enroll in Obamacare’s health insurance exchanges. The idea was simple: that if Congress was going to impose Obamacare upon the country, it should have to experience what it is imposing firsthand. But now, word comes that Congress is quietly seeking to rescind that provision of the law, because members fear that staffers who face higher insurance costs will leave the Hill. The news has sparked outrage from the right and left. Here’s the back story, and why this debate is crucial to the future of market-based health reform.

Come on...
Making up trouble where there was none?
Everybody has an exemption if they already have and like the
insurance they have.
President or garbage collector.

reply to post by MrInquisitive


S&F I've been saying all along, Obumacare is all about a massive expansion of Federal power.
It's also a huge tax increase. Our government does not care about our health.

Obumacare was designed by politicians with the help of Big Pharma & the Insurance Industry, not doctors & nurses.

Of course, the politicians will exempt themselves from this bureaucratic monstrosity.

reply to post by MrInquisitive

The mere fact that they are even talking about an exemption is an outrage.

Evidently, there are two threads on this topic. I replied to the other one that I had emailed my two senators and had called my rep's office to voice my views.

I was going back to it to report that I've just sent a non-partisan email to several of the people in my address book. I urge You all to do something along that line. This is a travesty! Let them know it.

No surprise to those who opposed it.......

We said from the beginning this would happen......

Naa, we just hate children and and the poor.......

How many times over and over must we be proven right that this Administrations policies are destructive, before those that support them WAKE UP!

Thankful to see others took a few minutes to write their legislators as did I. You elected a government to represent you so you need to tell them where you stand.

Not only did my legislators learn my point of view, they know my anger and frustration over this. I guess you could call it political rant therapy. Instead of feeling like a sheep heading to slaughter, I know I spoke for what I believe in.

Kudos to those who go one step further and post these stories on FB or through email and encourage others to contact their reps. Nice way to make a ripple effect.

Writing an article about this for your local paper? Awesome. People like you give me hope.

reply to post by MrInquisitive


Lawmakers never play by their own rules, and when re-election time comes, people will still vote these people back into office. There should be a list made of all these lawmakers including those who cater to lobbyists, and have it handed out at all the polling places. I would love to see the population all vote for 3rd party candidates and get these self-centered lawmakers out of office.

Unfortunately, the two party system has a hold on too many people.

If this doesn't wake up the sheople minded androids eyes to the out of control lawlessness of D.C I don't know what ever will. Even the biggest kool aid gulpers in either party should be outraged about this utter disgrace, slap in the face and hypocrisy.

I personally am at the end of my rope with these bottomfeeding carpetbaggers and their slimey ways. We need to throw almost every last one of them out of office. What is it gonna take for the people of The United States of America to unite for atleast truth and justice? These country club pigs are all in bed together on both sides. Tell me, when is enough, enough?

I mean, they think we are all stupid, and maybe they are correct about that, atleast in regards to the majority, which are clueless morons. You see, those are their most powerful allies, stupid people. Well, 2nd to the Internationalist corporations anyway. This entire story makes me want to vomit repeatedly.

My friends, There is absolutely no excuse whatsoever for a Nation such as ours to allow something like this to be made into Law. I really don't know what more there is to say about these disgusting jackals that supposedly represent us all. What a complete, circus-side show joke. ~$heopleNation

I remember reading some of the Obamacare plan. I dunno if I was 2000 pages in or 5000 pages in but I did read that all politicians of every state is exempt. Ever since this has passed it has been so. This is old news OP.

Originally posted by ManBehindTheMask
No surprise to those who opposed it.......

We said from the beginning this would happen......

Naa, we just hate children and and the poor.......

How many times over and over must we be proven right that this Administrations policies are destructive, before those that support them WAKE UP!

And right now in California our legislators are talking about lowering the employee mandate to just 5 employees from the original 50. Once the government has a mandate they can always change the parameters. Watch, their goal is to force everyone off of the insurance they have now. After all with so many who are exempt they need the small businesses to fund the California exchange.

reply to post by sad_eyed_lady

Thankful to see others took a few minutes to write their legislators as did I. You elected a government to represent you so you need to tell them where you stand. Not only did my legislators learn my point of view, they know my anger and frustration over this. I guess you could call it political rant therapy.

I use to write, but after a while I realized they kept my letters in file 13.

This is typical of politicians.

So congress is worried about their aides being hit with healthcare costs in the thousands...but to hell with the people who elected them as representatives of their needs and desires pertaining to laws and rights? The "let 'em eat cake" mentality prevails! I believe these buffoons must be held accountable if true...they are not above "WE THE PEOPLE. "