Two Congressional Republicans to Refuse (federally subsidized) Government Health Care

The Atlantic ^ | 11/18/10

[Libloather]

Two Congressional Republicans to Refuse Government Health Care
Nov 18 2010, 5:06 PM ET

Pursuant to Republican Congressman-elect Andy Harris's unfortunate (for Republicans) and easily capitalized upon (for Democrats) incredulity that his government-funded health coverage will take a month to kick in, Democrat Joe Crowley has been goading Republicans on the question of whether or not they'll accept federally subsidized health care after campaigning, for months on end, against Democratic health care reforms, often referring to it as a "government takeover" of the U.S. health care system.

Crowley has circulated a letter to his Democratic colleagues, to be sent to House Minority Leader (aka Speaker-elect) John Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, asking them to "survey the Republican Conference to find out which of their members will forgo the employer-subsidized Federal Employees Health Benefits coverage before trying to make it harder for others to obtain affordable coverage."

As of now, 47 Democrats have signed it.

Leaving aside the fact that the federal insurance coverage offered to members of Congress is a separate issue from Democratic reforms, and the regional exchanges and federal subsidies the new law creates, the generic conceptual resemblance has made for a pressure point that Democrats have not been able to resist poking.

[Libloather]

Does that mean they'll get fined and thrown in jail?

[FrankR]

As soon as the GOP takes the House in January, they should introduce a bill taking ALL of Congress of the fed subsidized insurance, and putting them all on obamacare, just like the people.

Then look at the dems and say, "Be careful what you ask for with us, bitch...you might just get it."

[NavVet]

I don’t know any Republican that has come out against employer provided health coverage. It is apples and oranges.

[ExTexasRedhead]

GOP must out RATs by name every chance they get and expose their arrogance! Start the 2012 campaign NOW. We The People will have our TOAST list name by name.

[Noamie]

This is a really, really stupid argument by Democrats, but who ever said they had any ideas anyway?

The Republicans should strip all Congressional members and staff of ALL federally-subsidized health benefits.

It’s not supposed to be a job - it’s a civic duty. Get your own health care.

Stop the gravy train.

[cfrels]

Republicans in congress....PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do not get sucked into the gamesmanship and diversions by the Dems.

I'm sure they will use this and many other tactics to prevent real issues from being addressed.

[CharlesWayneCT]

employer-subsidized Federal Employees Health Benefits

Their health benefits are not "subsidized". They are part of the compensation. You might as well say that their salaries are "government-subsidized".

[ballplayer]

Why Not THEY SHOULD ALL GO ON OBAMACARE! That would be change you can Believe in,I am for that