Posted on 09/23/2013 1:21:46 AM PDT by markomalley
Arguing federal workers should not get special treatment, Rand Paul says he does not want taxpayers subsidizing the personal health care plans of any federal employee — including Chief Justice John Roberts — anymore.
With some in Congress arguing lawmakers and their staff should not get subsidies to cover their health insurance as President Obama’s health care law goes into effect, the Republican senator from Kentucky told The Daily Caller on Sunday that he’s going to start pushing a constitutional amendment that goes even further.
Paul’s proposal — outlawing any special exemptions for government employees — would mean all federal workers would have to purchase health insurance on the new Obamacare exchanges instead of getting taxpayer-funded subsidies. Some critics say those subsidies amount to special treatment. The Obamacare health insurance exchange opens Oct 1.
“My amendment says basically that everybody including Justice Roberts — who seems to be such a fan of Obamacare — gets it too,” Paul told TheDC by phone on Sunday from Mackinac Island in Michigan, where he won a straw poll of potential Republican candidates for president in 2016.
“See, right now, Justice Roberts is still continuing to have federal employee health insurance subsidized by the taxpayer,” Paul said. “And if he likes Obamacare so much, I’m going to give him an amendment that gives Obamacare to Justice Roberts.”
Roberts famously voted to uphold the constitutionality of Obama’s unpopular health care law when it went before the Supreme Court last year.
Paul’s constitutional amendment says no federal employees should get special exemptions from laws. The senator also plans to push a proposal requiring that Congress and all federal employees rely on Obamacare for their insurance.
His proposal comes after outrage from conservatives about a so-called “exemption” for members of Congress and their staff from Obamacare.
What’s being referred to as the “Obamacare fix” for lawmakers and staff was made because the Affordable Care Act includes an amendment from a Republican senator that changes how the government currently covers most of the cost of health care premiums for members of Congress and their staffers. The new law mandates that members and staff must enter into exchanges or be covered by insurance “created” by law.
But after concerns about the cost of health care going up for congressional employees, the Office of Personnel Management announced in August that it would provide a subsidy of about 75 percent of the cost for the health care of members and staff.
Paul revealed his new amendment push on Sunday after TheDC inquired about a proposal from Louisiana Sen. David Vitter, who has proposed killing those federal Obamacare subsidies for lawmakers and their staff. “I support any effort to make all laws applicable to Congress that we pass,” Paul said.
But Paul says his proposal goes even further.
“I think mine is a little more inclusive,” Paul explained. “Mine — compared to Vitter’s — would include all federal employees, and save billions of dollars.”
He added: “Why don’t we do it for all federal employees? And mine would save quite a bit more money.”
Lawmakers, including Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, have defended the special Obamacare exemptions being made for lawmakers and their staff. Earlier this month, the Nevada Democrat flatly stated, “That’s what the law says, and we’ll be part of that.”
“We’ll be treated like the rest of the federal employees,” Reid said. “It’s nothing unique that employers help pay for health care.”
So does Deacon. . . . . .
Unfortunately for Sen Reid there is a lawsuit working its way to the Fed Courts which challenges the change without a Congressional vote. If Congress and the Exec can change a law without a vote, then can Congress be exempt from rape and murder??!!!
Whatever happened to, “Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country”?
I don’t understand Paul’s amendment. The law requires that all large employers provide health insurance for their employees. The federal government is a large employer. How is it special treatment for the government to do for its employees what outfits like IBM do for theirs?
The government does it with other peoples money so money is no object and government employees get cadillac plans with almost no contribution. Same with their retirement pensions.
IBM cannot exempt their employees from the increased costs of Obamacare as Congress did for federal government employees.
IBM can contribute more of its own money to its sponsored health plans but Congress did not allocate more of its appropriation for federal health plans, it simply wrote the increased cost of Obamacare out of federal health plans (exempting them from the law); IBM cannot do that.
I do not want Rand Paul or any lawmaker advocating Obamacare for anyone including federal government employees.
His proposal or amendment to deny Congress or any federal employee any special exemptions or subsidies in general is a valid action but it should not address specifically Obamacare.
I want Paul to defund Obamacare.
How about joining Cruz and Defund ObamaCare....Sen Paul?
Extending ObamaCare is just supporting ObamaCare
That’s what I’ve been saying for 3 years...”YOU GUYS FIRST”....if it works out fine, then MAYBE we’ll try it....but not only should they NEVER GET EXEMPTIONS, they should have been on it FIRST!
Congress and staffers exempted the subsidy cap from their salaries. So Justice Roberts can earn $300K and still get his insurance 75% paid for under the exemption they carved out for the more equal pigs on the farm.
Geesh....he’s making a GREAT POINT....give him some credit! he doesn’t want Obamacare anymore than we do, but in EXPOSING the HYPOCRISY of the ELITES in GOVT, he’s making a point for the LOW INFO VOTERS.
come on.
What part of LAW don’t you understand?
A LAW is applicable to ALL. However, in our wonderful system of government “all animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.” Orwell.
Ever see the picture of the lady holding the scales of law? Notice that the scale is balanced. That means something.
Let’s start that conversation by acknowledging we aren’t going to deport 12 million illegal immigrants... bringing these workers out of the shadows and into being taxpaying members of society. Imagine 12 million people who are already here coming out of the shadows to become new taxpayers.12 million more people assimilating into society. 12 million more people being productive contributors. [but he’s not in favor of amnesty, snicker, definition of is is]
...by softening its edge on some volatile social issues and altering its image as the party always seemingly "eager to go to war... We do need to expand the party and grow the party and that does mean that we don't always all agree on every issue" ... the party needs to become more welcoming to individuals who disagree with basic Republican doctrine on emotional social issues such as gay marriage... "We're going to have to be a little hands off on some of these issues ... and get people into the party," Paul said.
Might make Roberts think twice if another chance to get rid of Obamacare comes up and he’d be stuck with what he voted for. This bill by Rand Paul sounds small, but if it passes it really messes with the heads of those who vote against US citizens, whenever they get the chance.
“How about joining Cruz and Defund ObamaCare....Sen Paul?”
He already said that he won’t vote for any bills that fund Obamacare.
***The law requires that all large employers provide health insurance for their employees.***
The Federal Govt. is NOT a Company - it is a group of contracted workers. 300 million taxpayer/citizens are forced to pay them to function. They are truly self-employed freelancers, answerable to no-one - so they should pay for their own health insurance, food, transportation and taxes.
Doesn’t sound small to me...it sounds FAIR!
Just wondering.....
Seeing your screen name, are you related to “Deacon Blues”?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEjLMEV-MyA
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