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dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)
Thu Apr 25, 2013, 11:49 AM Apr 2013

Lawmakers, aides may get "Obamacare" exemption

Congressional leaders in both parties are engaged in high-level, confidential talks about exempting lawmakers and Capitol Hill aides from the insurance exchanges they are mandated to join as part of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul, sources in both parties said.

The talks — which involve Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), the Obama administration and other top lawmakers — are extraordinarily sensitive, with both sides acutely aware of the potential for political fallout from giving carve-outs from the hugely controversial law to 535 lawmakers and thousands of their aides. Discussions have stretched out for months, sources said.
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/04/obamacare-exemption-lawmakers-aides-90610.html

The headline uses "Obamacare", I just added the parenthesis...

13 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Lawmakers, aides may get "Obamacare" exemption (Original Post) dixiegrrrrl Apr 2013 OP
Now that's what I call bipartisanship. Bonhomme Richard Apr 2013 #1
Gives you a warm, tingly feeling, doesn't it? deutsey Apr 2013 #4
Never trust a chef who won't eat his own cooking. Nuclear Unicorn Apr 2013 #2
Agreed... Pelican Apr 2013 #3
I bet they also will get Newest Reality Apr 2013 #5
kick(nt) The Straight Story Apr 2013 #6
I'm sorry, but this kind of crap really boils my buttons. Seeking Serenity Apr 2013 #7
Oklahoma and other states did the same thing with smoking bans, exempted themselves The Straight Story Apr 2013 #9
Doesn't that say it all. Its becoming harder and harder to defend the ACA riderinthestorm Apr 2013 #8
No, Congress isn’t trying to exempt itself from Obamacare ProSense Apr 2013 #10
Hmm, so we are supposed to believe Ezra Klein and his anonymous "friends"? riderinthestorm Apr 2013 #11
Corporate welfare is at an all time high. Rex Apr 2013 #12
Sure, and the precedent's already set. Big corp gets carve outs because they can't "handle" the ACA riderinthestorm Apr 2013 #13

Bonhomme Richard

(8,992 posts)
1. Now that's what I call bipartisanship.
Thu Apr 25, 2013, 11:56 AM
Apr 2013

Who says that Washington doesn't work. Sure it does if it is their interest at stake.
They really, really are Asshats.

Newest Reality

(12,712 posts)
5. I bet they also will get
Thu Apr 25, 2013, 12:14 PM
Apr 2013

huge choco-rations and access to cases of Victory Gin unlike the rest of us.

I'm proud to see America #1 doing so extremely well so that we, in America #2 can be safely decrepit and confidently ill.

An Illustration:

Seeking Serenity

(2,838 posts)
7. I'm sorry, but this kind of crap really boils my buttons.
Thu Apr 25, 2013, 02:42 PM
Apr 2013

Like when they exempt themselves from all sorts of labor laws and other laws everyone else has to obey.

I'm speechless.

The Straight Story

(48,121 posts)
9. Oklahoma and other states did the same thing with smoking bans, exempted themselves
Thu Apr 25, 2013, 02:52 PM
Apr 2013

And allowed for smoking rooms inside the state house for employees.

ProSense

(116,464 posts)
10. No, Congress isn’t trying to exempt itself from Obamacare
Thu Apr 25, 2013, 02:56 PM
Apr 2013
No, Congress isn’t trying to exempt itself from Obamacare

Posted by Ezra Klein

There’s a Politico story making the rounds that says that members of Congress are engaged in secret, sensitive negotiations to exempt themselves and their staffs from Obamacare.

Well, they were secret, anyway.

<...>

The story has blown up on Twitter. “Unbelievable,” tweets TPM’s Brian Beutler. “Flat out incredible,” says Politico’s Ben White. “Obamacare for thee, but not for me,” snarks Ben Domenech. “Two thumbs way, way down,” says Richard Roeper. (Okay, I made the last one up).

If this sounds unbelievable, it’s because it is. There’s no effort to “exempt” Congress from Obamacare. No matter how this shakes out, Congress will have to follow the law, just like everyone else does.

Based on conversations I’ve had with a number of the staffs involved in these talks, the actual issue here is far less interesting, and far less explosive, than an exemption. Rather, a Republican amendment meant to embarrass Democrats and a too-clever-by-half Democratic response has possibly created a problem in which the federal government can’t make its normal contribution to the insurance premiums of congressional staffers.

- more -

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/04/25/no-congress-isnt-trying-to-exempt-itself-from-obamacare/

This close to full implementation of the law, the bullshit stories driven by Republicans and anti-health care forces are to be expected and the level of desperation of the opposition is clearly increasing.

Most Congressional aides, given the low salaries are going to qualify for Medicaid or huge subsidies.
 

riderinthestorm

(23,272 posts)
11. Hmm, so we are supposed to believe Ezra Klein and his anonymous "friends"?
Thu Apr 25, 2013, 06:53 PM
Apr 2013

Why?

Exemptions and carve-outs have been occurring since the ACA was first passed. "Big" employers (and the government is the biggest I'd agree) have been doing this for the past couple years on other issues - why shouldn't the government do it since it "solves" this problem (and conveeeeeniently gets them out of the exchanges).

If there'd been no well-established history of exemptions and carve-outs for big corporations, I'd think maybe Ezra and his anonymous sources more credible.

 

riderinthestorm

(23,272 posts)
13. Sure, and the precedent's already set. Big corp gets carve outs because they can't "handle" the ACA
Thu Apr 25, 2013, 07:09 PM
Apr 2013

requirements.

Whose the biggest employer of them all?

The government. Voila! Gotta have the carve-outs and exemptions too.

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