Exclusive: Rand Paul wants Chief Justice Roberts, all federal workers, to enroll in Obamacare

The Daily Caller ^ | 9/23/2013 | Alex Pappas

[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.”

[Old Sarge]

I've heard say that Clinton at his peak had that same aura.

I once knew a woman while living in Ohio, who was an unashamed Clinton lover - not just a supporter, a lover.

She shook his hand once at a rally, and she gushed orgasmically about how he made her feel like she was the only woman in the room, etc.

That was the secret of William The Impeached. Women fell in lust with him, and catapulted him twice into office. Of course he had the black vote as the "first black president", but it was women who voted with their lady parts and kept a serial rapist in power.

[Ann Archy]

I KNOW which Paul we are talking about...he's short....Reagan wasn't short.

Geesh, I just looked him up...he was 6'1"......WHY in the world did you think he was short???

[Mashood]

“Arguing federal workers should not get special treatment, Rand Paul says he...”

...while he exempts himself from Obamacare...

[SoConPubbie]

Good for Rand Paul.

[Hostage]

I shook hands on several occasions with Ronald Reagan at the Belair Presbyterian Church and he was nowhere near six feet tall. He was not much taller than Nancy and she is petite.

[FiddlePig]

With the defunding battle uncertain, the BEST way to repeal Obamacare is to force those who passed it, forced it on us and now seem to want NO PART of it, to also participate in it.

Sen. Paul offer an amendment to the CR, that if the Senate Democrats insist on funding Obamacare, they SHALL be subject to its rules!

[jpsb]

Washinton Times

"The effort [to defund ObamaCare], spearheaded by Sen. Mike Lee, Utah Republican, has attracted support from rising stars in the party, including Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida, Ted Cruz of Texas, and Rand Paul of Kentucky.

Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/inside-politics/2013/jul/25/dozen-senate-republicans-pitch-plan-defund-obamaca/#ixzz2fiywiAyV Follow us: @washtimes on Twitter

[DeaconRed]

"Seeing your screen name, are you related to “Deacon Blues”?"

I don't think so. I wanted to be Deacon Blue but that name was taken, I am a BIG ALABAMA fan. Stealy Dan does Deacon Blue. "They call ALABAMA THE CRIMSON TIDE. . . "
In 1988 I started off being Stop Blaming Starr, Then Voter#537, Then Deacon Red. (for Red States).

[Hostage]

He should not tie any amendment to deny exemptions and subsidies to federal employees to Obamacare. He should offer the bill, amendment or proposal without reference to Obamacare.

Obamacare must be defunded. Rand Paul doesn’t think it possible to defund it. He is not a leader. He’s a quipster.

[Hostage]

Here’s a photo of Ron and Nancy the way I saw them at Bel Air Presbyterian.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zffCruuQm6k/Tp_Yqr5kJiI/AAAAAAAALdw/23MR-hmkCK8/s1600/Ronald-and-Nancy-Reagan-with-Michael-Jackson.jpg&imgrefurl=http://whoknewtheykneweachother.blogspot.com/2011/10/ronald-nancy-reagan-with-michael.html&h=1600&w=1524&sz=461&tbnid=zwQ-qj-xdIW7mM:&tbnh=142&tbnw=135&zoom=1&usg=__ko0B-0mb8DNxj3H2KUDbEWuVdZk=&docid=Z0MNbyjO4oKhYM&sa=X&ei=ikpAUuGwMKWejALVlYGgDQ&sqi=2&ved=0CEYQ9QEwCw

Nancy was 5’4” and I would say those are 3” heels she is wearing making her 5’7” in the photo absent the hair pile. Ronald’s boots are western dress boots giving him at least 2” in height.

Nancy’s brushed hair gives her about 3” extra height and Ronald’s about an inch at most.

In the photo Ronald stands about 3” taller than Nancy.

After all adjustments take 3” off Reagan and 6” off Nancy and add 3” that Ronald has over Nancy in the photo. Ronald stands about 6” taller than Nancy’s 5’4”. That’s about how tall I remember him, maybe even an inch shorter.

Remember too that Ronald was an actor and likely wore height increasing shoes, hence the western style boots. Many Hollywood actors of his era were made to look taller than they actually were. Humphrey Bogart had to practically wear stilts in films with his leading ladies. Tom Cruise is only 5’7” but he is made to look taller in his films.

Ronald also colored his hair. All of these things were done in his day to look the part, and I don’t mind these vanities. Earlier presidents also had cosmetics or hairpieces to enhance their image with the public.

It’s not about appearance so much as about spirit but of course appearance helps a great deal. Newt Gingrich is tall but many think him fat and short probably because his spirit doesn’t often resonate with the public (although I like him, at times). I’ve stood next to Newt and he is a big man, tall and stocky.

Also looking at the photo you can see Michael Jackson about the same height as Ronald Reagan. Michael was said to be 5’11” and that may or may not be true. But his hairpile is about an inch and his shoes likely added an inch. Subtracting 2” for Michael and 3” off RR would leave RR at 5’10” if in fact Michael was 5’11” which I somehow doubt.

[cva66snipe]

No member of any branch of federal government nor any federal agency employee should be exempt from the laws of the United States. That needs too include POTUS, Congress, and Judges as well as all aides etc. If they write laws of tyranny then let the tyrants be bound by it also.

[Agamemnon]

RONALD REAGAN FACTS

Physical Description

Height: 6’1”

Hair: Brown

Weight: 180-184 lbs.

http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/reference/facts.html

RR's height has been reported in many references and all references essentially say the same thing: 6'1".

Picture angles often change the perspective of things. In person people often lean in as they greet others. Maybe you're short and he leaned forward to accommodate you.

Suffice it to say you did not witness him in his doctor's office on a height/weight scale.

I happen to be 6'4" so from my perspective he would have been shorter than me. Had I ever met him I doubt he would have been inclined to lean-in to accommodate my height.

I any case he was certainly not a man of short stature as has been implied.

FReegards!

[zeugma]

Even better, simply defund and disband the federal health insurance plan in its entirety. Same for their retirement plans.

[MinuteGal]

I also researched RR's height and found every source to be in agreement that he was 6'1".

All I can say is that on two occasions our heads were less than three feet apart, and knowing my accurate height at that time, I estimated him to be 6' or 6'1"......as I originally posted up thread.

He shook my hand warmly and, surprisingly, he remembered my name "Leni" from our meeting FOUR years prior.

I almost fell on the floor....aware of the multitudes of thousands of folks he pressed the flesh with in four years.

Leni

[Hostage]

Ronald Reagan’s hair was also reported to be brown or slightly orange, even into his 70s. But we know it was colored. But I really don’t care.

The ‘Facts’ you pull off the net are carryovers from his Hollywood days.

I met him, I shook hands with him on several occasions after he was out of office. I shook both his hand and Nancy’s. I’m telling you he was not all that tall. He was not short but he was not tall. In fact he was only a few inches taller than Nancy who was wearing only about 2” heels to Church but had her characteristic hair pile of about 3”, and she was petite at about 5’4”.

In height enhancing cowboy boots, one can add 4” or more to height.

http://www.increasingshoes.com/?gclid=CKrwyYOH4rkCFU1k7Aodp2sANw

But again, I really don’t care.

There were plenty of world leaders during Reagan’s time that towered over him because of their height and size. But he always seemed bigger than anyone because of his style, elegance and substance.

All I am saying is that if Rand Paul is only 5’7” as reported, then I would not care a wit if he had the spiritual stature of Reagan. But I don’t think he does. But I think Cruz does have the stature and I wouldn’t care if he’s 5’0” because he’s a giant in my eyes.

[Hostage]

Politicians are trained to remember names. The same has happened to me.

RR may have been wearing height increasing boots when you met him. He most often wore western style cowboy type boots.

Like I said in the previous posting, if Ted Cruz was 5’0” I would vote for him. And if Rand Paul was 6’4” tall I am reluctant to vote for him because I think he has gaps in his messaging stemming from gaps in his philosophy and principles. He seems to eventually come around after the impact of his commentary returns to him.

But to get through an election campaign you need to be as disciplined as Cruz who is reported to have stood for hours in front of a mirror practicing his delivery, and who is highly disciplined as to his message to the point of sounding repetitive.

[Grampa Dave]

[spokeshave]

Pelosi hears this and that Obamacare doesn't cover Botox

[spokeshave]

I shook hands on several occasions with Ronald Reagan at the Belair Presbyterian Church and he was nowhere near six feet tall. He was not much taller than Nancy and she is petite.

At least he was taller than Bush.

[Talisker]

One Stone, Two Powers: How Chief Justice Roberts Saved America