Touche. Vitter’s ammendment snookers Reid into looking like an elitist cryptkeeper.
I been posting that they should do this for weeks. That must be why its brilliant HAHA. (Doesn't this CR just last to November anyway?)
This is the really low hanging fruit that Dems and Obama have no defense for.
How many in congress will oppose cutting off their own perks that they will even still get in a shutdown if nothing goes in to law?
Beat Dems
Other than Manchin, what other sky-blue Democrat(s) could be peeled off?
But what if the Senate passes the one with the Vitter amendment? Does that mean we get full implementation of Obamacare, with that one modification?
That’s a disastrous deal for us, since the whole Congressional exemption thing is a trifle compared to the full impact of Obamacare.
Vitter amendment with unanimous GOP opposition to cloture takes back the Senate in 2014. Period. But it will never happen with Progressive VietCong operative McCain on the job.
So they will abandon protecting Americans from disaster and will instead simply guarantee the elites will be afflicted along with the serfs.
I know the GOP has some end game in mind. The vitter amendment idea is as good as any. They are currently forcing the dems into defending Obama care on the record. Then it will be time to take their case to the voters next year. I sure wish we could back at Obama for illegally giving exemptions regarding this law. Heck, even if the senate passes the vitter amendment, Obama my still give the exemption. It already is the law,,
Fine by me. they can’t spin that one.
What's to think about? This should have been in there from the beginning.
Oh wait... Maybe it's because Boehner and Reid secretly colluded to get special treatment for congressional staffs back in April:
There are more than 1200 other exemptions in Obamacare, for unions, connected businesses and entire states. The Vitter amendment ends subsidies/exemptions for certain Federal employees - perhaps the most glaring examples of the unfairness built into the plan, but are only the tip of the iceberg IMHO.
Nothing is said about the Christian organizations who are commanded to comply in violation of their religious beliefs while Muslim organizations get waivers.
What about the one-year reprieve that big employers get, that individuals do not?
Freaking unbelievable!
EVERY DEMOCRAT in Congress wants a delay that will get them past the 2014 election.
And Boehner just hands it to them!
The problem here is that Vitter’s language is already in the bill. In a lawless society, the law really doesn’t mean much. The original bill required all members of Congress to drop their federal insurance in 2011. That didn’t happen, nor do I see them dropping it in 2014 regardless of what new amendments get added.
I got a good Idea!!! if the government shuts down The House and Senate loose their pay for the year add that to the bill!!!
“Should that happen, the House will send another bill back. The leadership is mulling several options. At the top of the list is a revised CR that includes the Vitter amendment, authored by Senator David Vitter (R., La.), which would eliminate Obamacare subsidies for congressional staffers and members.”
This is a loser. Dems will agree and Obamacare would proceed—then they will figure out a workaround. Maybe if Congress, in addition, cut all federal employees off FEHP and put them on unsubsidized Obamacare just like the rest of us, that would have an effect.
(and no Palomino therapy......../snicker)
I favor the delay approach. I don’t favor the Vitter approach. All it does is drag a few Congressional staffers into the mess. Members of Congress, particularly Senators, are millionaires and can afford whatever coverage they want. Or to self insure if they so choose.
My first choice is repeal. My second is defunding. My third is delay. Ive read a lot of the arguments on FR over the past few hours and I think its the way of least harm at this point.
There is what you want and what you can get. The Senate effectively killed the defund option. The House has already decided that it isnt going to defend that patch of ground, so why belabor it? The question is whether delay is acceptable as opposed to full implementation?
I understand the sentiments expressed to just let the act go into law and let the rats own it. Understood, but it overlooks the real harm that will come to Americans if it does go into effect. I agree that in war there are times when the best choice amongst bad choices is to call in artillery on your own position. This is not one of those times. There are other options on the table.
What ultimately convinced me to come in favor of delay is a detail that has been talked about a bit but not so much: the situation with the computer software. Its just not ready. And that has the potential to cause a complete meltdown. Yes, it would be gratifying to watch the rats beloved mcconnelcare crash and burn in a sadistic sort of way, but dont forget that real Americans would be harmed as a result. If our best argument for conservatism is that well harm Americans less, but were still OK with harming them, then I think weve already lost.
Second, delay allows us time to make our arguments and continue the steady drip, drip, drip of negative information coming out about mcconnelcare. One thing that we have now that we didnt have even a month ago is the costs of coverage under the exchanges. We have the real data. Not conjecture: this is what mcconnelcare is going to cost YOU. That will allow for websites like www.seehowbadACAis.com Dont underestimate the value of sticker shock. Also, if worse does come to worst a year from now, we will have had time to educate people on the ramifications of noncompliance.
Also, there is some PR value to be had in having stood back from the initial position of defund. Our side has given some. The other side is refusing to even negotiate. While we shouldnt expect anything but propaganda from the MSM, the truth has a way of getting out.
I dont trust Speaker Boehner to stand firm on anything. But simply because he hasnt the last 50 times doesnt necessarily mean that he wont shock us and do it this time. And I did notice the information coming to light that the gop conference is pretty happy with this. That includes some fairly good conservatives that are not in a mood to agree with much of anything. I understand it isnt much, but you fight with the Army you have, not the one you wish you had.
Finally, I think that digging in on delay will cause some defections on the other side. Joe Manchin being the first, but I think there will be others. The other side is evil, but they arent completely stupid. They know this isnt ready for prime time and Id bet theyre not all that keen on being left holding the bag if it collapses in a heap. Dingy Hairy can talk the talk, but I doubt that hell be able to keep all of his members in line if the House digs in its heels on a one year delay.
TERM LIMIT LAMAR ALEXANDER IN 2014 RINO VOTED FOR THIS PIECE OF GARBAGE! Tea Party Backed JOE CARR is running against him.
NO CONGRESSIONAL EXEMPTIONS....NONE....ANd the President and his wonderful family need to be on it also!! YOU FIRST, OBAMAS!!
The spin has already begun. The MSM have already started blame the extremist Republicans.
The government WILL be shut down.
This could be the begining of Civil War II as the states will move to govern themselves because the federal government, as we know it, is no more.The federal government is just a collective of coercive utopians, socialists who have become fascist.
The People may NOW declare that they do not want such a federal government. Obama must resign or be impeached for his treason, lies and deceit, and abusing the legislative process, contrary to the Constitution. If Obama is not impeached, then the federal government can shut down for good.
Let the federal government shut down and NEVER reopen in its present form, the states can convene a convention and establish a NEW federal government based on what the People want, not based on coercion, lies,deceit and treason.