Lawmakers, aides may get Obamacare exemption

[himher 634]

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/04/obamacare-exemption-lawmakers-aides-90610.html

Liberal logic: We can vote for it for you, but we take too much of a financial hit if we apply it to ourselves

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.

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.

[Darnell 8,478]

Yup, is the same discussion from about 18 months ago, still no resolution.

ObamaCare, Git Some!

[TBoneTX 45,266]

It would have saved a lot of grief had the Founding Fathers penned a statement such as "Any law passed by Congress shall immediately and equally apply to the members of Congress as it does to the public."

Edited April 26, 2013 by TBoneTX