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Congress Exempts Itself From Obamacare Rate Shock as Americans Face Skyrocketing Premiums
Townhall.com ^ | August 2, 2013 | Katie Pavlich

Posted on 08/02/2013 9:04:28 AM PDT by Kaslin

As everyday Americans face healthcare premium rate shock thanks to Obamacare, Congress and their staffs have just been exempted from having to pay thousands of dollars in extra cash for their healthcare next year. How? Their plans are being heavily subsidized by taxpayers. More from POLITICO:

Lawmakers and staff can breathe easy — their health care tab is not going to soar next year.

The Office of Personnel Management, under heavy pressure from Capitol Hill, will issue a ruling that says the government can continue to make a contribution to the health care premiums of members of Congress and their aides, according to several Hill sources.

A White House official confirmed the deal and said the proposed regulations will be issued next week.

The problem was rooted in the original text of the Affordable Care Act. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) inserted a provision which said members of Congress and their aides must be covered by plans “created” by the law or “offered through an exchange.” Until now, OPM had not said if the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program could contribute premium payments toward plans on the exchange. If payments stopped, lawmakers and aides would have faced thousands of dollars in additional premium payments each year. Under the old system, the government contributed nearly 75 percent of premium payments.
Lets break this down: First, lawmakers on the Hill voted for a terrible bill that a majority of people didn't want. Now three years later, those same lawmakers have exempted themselves from Obamacare rate shock in order to save their own wallets while the rest of America suffers from skyrocketing healthcare premiums. Don't worry though, Nancy Pelosi is reassuring everyone that Congress and their staffs will have to enroll in Obamacare exchanges, they just won't be paying for it.

"Members of Congress and their staffs must enroll in health marketplaces as the Affordable Care Act requires,” she wrote. “As we continue our work to ensure the smooth implementation of this law and look forward to the start of enrollment on October 1st, we will continue our efforts this August to educate consumers on the law’s provisions and tout the critical benefits already in place for millions of Americans.”
Ironically, lawmakers were concerned a jump in premiums for their staff would kill jobs on the Hill.

Obama’s involvement in solving this impasse was unusual, to say the least. But it came after serious griping from both sides of the aisle about the potential of a “brain drain.” The fear, as told by sources in both parties, was that aides would head for more lucrative jobs, spooked by the potential for spiking health premiums.
To make things worse, despite the Obama administration delaying parts of Obamacare for corporations while individuals pay a heavy price for a piece of legislation that isn't ready for primetime, cowards on both sides of aisle don't have the guts to defund the bill in its entirety.

As a reminder, more people than ever want Obamacare repealed and a majority disapprove of the law.

A new CBS News poll finds more Americans than ever want the Affordable Care Act repealed.
Keep working America, Washington is depending on you.

According to the poll, 36 percent of Americans want Congress to expand or keep the health care law while 39 percent want Congress to repeal it - the highest percentage seen in CBS News polls. The poll also found a majority of Americans - 54 percent - disapprove of the health care law, 36 percent of Americans approve of it and 10 percent said they don't know about it.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Government
KEYWORDS: 0carenightmare; congressobamacare
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1 posted on 08/02/2013 9:04:28 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

Our rulers should be tarred and feathered...then voted out of office. ALL OF THEM.


2 posted on 08/02/2013 9:06:54 AM PDT by PistolPaknMama
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To: Kaslin

Don’t BAIL OUT Dems on this.

Shove Obamacare down America’s throats and let the chaos play out in favor of R’s in the next few elections.


3 posted on 08/02/2013 9:07:11 AM PDT by TigerClaws
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To: Kaslin

No exemptions from the consequences of your own idiocies please, Congress.

What, is it a bad thing or something? /s


4 posted on 08/02/2013 9:10:33 AM PDT by RegulatorCountry
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<<<< A new CBS News poll finds more Americans than ever want the Affordable Care Act repealed. >>>>

Lets call the "Affordable" Care Act what it really is:

The Unaffordable Care Act

5 posted on 08/02/2013 9:10:39 AM PDT by Kaslin (He needed the ignorant to reelect him, and he got them. Now we all have to pay the consequenses)
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To: Kaslin
Well that's a relief. I was really worried that the congress-critters would be stuck with Obamanationcare like the rest of us.

Obamanationcare is for the little people, not for the ruling class.


6 posted on 08/02/2013 9:10:47 AM PDT by Bubba_Leroy (The Obamanation Continues)
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To: Kaslin

Time is coming folks. How much more can we take?


7 posted on 08/02/2013 9:11:37 AM PDT by vpintheak (We are the the God blessed chosen few! Be thankful for it!)
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To: Kaslin

There is got to be a lawsuit here. Can gov pass laws that require their compliance and then ignore it because it personally cost them money. I cannot believe someone cannot sue the gov on this one and win. What is next, murder is illegal, but a Congressmen or staffer is exempt from such limits.


8 posted on 08/02/2013 9:13:08 AM PDT by Fee
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To: Kaslin

Hanging’s too good for em.


9 posted on 08/02/2013 9:16:51 AM PDT by Old Yeller (Goodbye America. Glad the majority of my years were spent during the good days.)
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To: Kaslin; FReepers; FRiends; Patriots




Please Support FR



10 posted on 08/02/2013 9:17:50 AM PDT by Lady Jag (If you can't make them see the light, let them feel the heat. - Reagan)
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To: Fee
There is got to be a lawsuit here.

Hopefully Sekulow will take this on. I'm sure he will.
11 posted on 08/02/2013 9:18:06 AM PDT by Old Yeller (Goodbye America. Glad the majority of my years were spent during the good days.)
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To: All


Help FR Continue the Conservative Fight!
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12 posted on 08/02/2013 9:18:13 AM PDT by musicman (Until I see the REAL Long Form Vault BC, he's just "PRES__ENT" Obama = Without "ID")
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To: Kaslin

Scum like Pelosi don’t even need to carry insurance because they are so wealthy. You know she has her personal doctors on speed dial. Especially the plastic surgeon.


13 posted on 08/02/2013 9:19:02 AM PDT by Old Yeller (Goodbye America. Glad the majority of my years were spent during the good days.)
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To: Kaslin

Despicable. Congress and their staff will get a Cadillac health plan paid for by the taxpayers while the rest of us will be paying big bucks to wait in line at the government clinic for third world health care. We NEED a constitutional amendment barring Congress from exempting themselves from any laws they pass.


14 posted on 08/02/2013 9:19:37 AM PDT by The Great RJ (construction)
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To: Fee

. I cannot believe someone cannot sue the gov on this one and win.
..........................................................

If you have been watching the courts lately you can believe anything. They side with like they are owned.


15 posted on 08/02/2013 9:20:29 AM PDT by Venturer ( cowardice posturing as tolerance =political correctness)
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To: Kaslin

The whole concept of the employer “paying for” health care is the fundamental problem.

Your employer should no more pay for your health insurance than your car insurance or house insurance.


16 posted on 08/02/2013 9:20:31 AM PDT by nascarnation (Baraq's economic policy: trickle up poverty)
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To: Kaslin

This has got me so damn mad!


17 posted on 08/02/2013 9:23:20 AM PDT by BO Stinkss (Remember Antonio West)
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To: nascarnation

Compensation comes in many forms. Some employees have company cars, GASP! Is this something employers “shouldn’t” be doing, too?


18 posted on 08/02/2013 9:25:34 AM PDT by RegulatorCountry
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To: The Great RJ

“We NEED a constitutional amendment barring Congress from exempting themselves from any laws they pass.”

There is an amendment to Obamacare that prevents them from exempting themselves. They are just going to ignore it.


19 posted on 08/02/2013 9:25:44 AM PDT by BO Stinkss (Remember Antonio West)
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To: Kaslin

We now have a banana republic - if you can keep it. Oh well, the sheeple will bitch for an hour & NOTHING of any consequence will be done. I’m wondering if there is anything, besides taking toilets out of your owned home, will there ever be a flashpoint.


20 posted on 08/02/2013 9:36:22 AM PDT by Digger
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