Posted on 08/05/2013 8:51:55 PM PDT by grundle
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — The Obama administration is out to fix a major snafu with its signature accomplishment, Obamacare.
The problem affects members of Congress and the people who work for them.
But some complain the proposed fix is both illegal, and unfair, CBS 2’s Tony Aiello reported Monday.
Critics said it’s an example of how Washington ignores rules everyone else must follow, and how in the rush to pass Obamacare, even members of Congress didn’t realize what was in it.
“There’s a lot of concern that Congress is making up the rules as they go along for themselves,” Manhattan Institute healthcare expert Avik Roy told CBS 2’s Aiello.
Roy said it was a pretty big “oops.”
When a bitterly divided Congress approved Obamacare it agreed that representatives, senators and thousands of staffers would drop their private insurance and move into the new Obamacare insurance exchanges.
The private insurance was heavily subsidized by taxpayers, but Obamacare doesn’t allow for subsidies for people making the six-figure salaries that are common on Capitol Hill.
So all those Washington insiders could have been forced to pay up to $10,000 out-of-pocket.
“This was a big crisis for Congress because congressman and their staffs were going to lose their health benefits,” Roy said.
But just before members left Washington for the August recess the president himself promised to fix the issue.
“Look, the administration and the leaders are working on that. I don’t know the details,” Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-Brooklyn) said.
Well, the details are raising eyebrows. Instead of asking Congress to amend the law, the Obama administration wants to order a government agency called OPM to just pay for congressional workers’ Obamacare subsidies.
But at least one analysis has found, “OPM does not have the legal authority to do this. So there’s some controversy. Some people say there really needs to be a legislative fix. You have to have an act of Congress passed to fix this problem,” Roy said.
But the president doesn’t want Congress “fixing” Obamacare, fearing they’ll make other changes.
The question now is whether opponents will challenge this move in court.
Where are the conservative organizations that inundate me with email and junk mail for donations. Liberal groups by now would have filed a dozen lawsuits if their ox was gored!!!!
We can only hope&hallip; but we might get another ACA-ruling that makes no sense whatsoever.
IT wasn’t a “snafu.” It was a poison pill put in by Grassley. And it is the LAW. If Obamacare is good enough for the citizens of the US, it is good enough for Congresscritters and their staffs.
These are the kind of things that lead to armed revolt.
You see these conservative groups are really about two things (a) getting money off of people that support them, and (b) keeping things the same so they don't fix whatever (a) is that justifies them requesting money.
[/cynic]
They passed it and still don’t know what’s in it.
These people are turds in a punchbowl.
Just got word at my job today. Next year, we will have to pay 100% of doctor’s visits, hospital stays. and prescriptions-THEN file a claim for 80% reimbursement.
Thanks obama!
Glad I dumped this last year and went on my wife’s insurance. The only consolidation is I work with 98% obama voters and they are getting what they supported.
Something like $25 million is going to be paid to Equifax to verify income of those asking for subsidies. I’m sorry for people who knew this was a stupid law. But I’m laughing at all the liberals who are screaming bloody murder. hee hee
I thought this was a done deal?
TOUGH~~~~
Queen Nancy told them they would have to sign it to find out what was in it.
US mere mortals saw the idiocy in this statement but WE don’t represent the ‘people’ WE ARE THE PEOPLE.
The real shame is WE THE PEOPLE sent basically the same bunch of idiots BACK to their jobs instead of giving them a swift kick to the curb....
The so called IDIOTS that are in the hallowed halls of Congress screamed BOHICA in unison and dutifully bent over and signed the bill.
NOW they are parsing it (took them what 4(?) years or so to get this far???must be one helluva long document seeing they are only getting to themselves)
The real beauty of it is THEY ARE GOING ON VACATION.
If BONER had any guts, gonads or whatever he would demand they stay and fix it and many other things.
When the Libs start crying, moaning and groaning, tell them to go and the R’s will be given a chance to fix things.
BUT, Boner and the so called R’s would end up changing nothing even if the D’s went home.
There was an old ‘chestnut’ about a couple of teams in a football game, tied 0-0 in the 4th ‘sudden death OT’, and one team walked off the field in protest.
TEN plays later, the other team kicked a field goal.
Well, a lot of deals were made, but it's looking more and more like it's all done.
Larry Klayman....Larry baby...pick up the phone....
Any congresscritter who votes to exempt themselves and their staffs is VIOLATING THE EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE.
To KNOWINGLY do it is TREASON!
Nope, the 14th Amendment's Section 1 is binding on the states, not the FedGov:
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
To KNOWINGLY do it is TREASON!
Unless it is levying War against them [the several States], or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort it isn't treason. Period.
Not here. We're all talk.
Read the fine print, they did not even read it before they shoved it down the voters throats.
Only Gov Palin did and spoke out about it.
I got one yesterday from some outfit calling its self "U.S. Citizens Association" asking me to join in asking Chief Justice Roberts to put an end to this madness.....the nerve of them when CJ Roberts gave live to all this madness. Nancy Pelosi rammed this bilge down the throat of congress, and now we are watching Washington dodging their laws again...This time I agree with them, I don't want Obamacare either its totally toxic! Leave me out.
Larry Klayman....Larry baby...pick up the phone....
The courts will just slap down whoever attempts to take it to court for lack of 'standing'.
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