Suddenly, the legislators are becomming concerned about obamacare. WHY? Because they've just discovered it will most likely effect them negatively. "Dozens of lawmakers and aides are so afraid that their health insurance premiums will skyrocket next year thanks to Obamacare that they are thinking about retiring early or just quitting. The fear: Government-subsidized premiums will disappear at the end of the year under a provision in the health care law that nudges aides and lawmakers onto the government health care exchanges, which could make their benefits exorbitantly expensive." House Democratic leadership says the issue must be resolved. “The leadership has assured members that fixing this issue is a top priority,” said one Democratic leadership aide. “This issue must be fixed by administrative action in order that the flawed Grassley Amendment’s spirit is honored and all staff and members are treated the same.” It could be politically difficult to change this provision. The provision was put in the bill in the first place on the theory that if Congress was going to make the country live under the provisions of Obamacare, the members and staff should have to as well." Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/...alth-insurance-92691_Page2.html#ixzz2W6bvgLTP The Republican Grassley Amendment said that if there was going to be an Obamacare, that Congress should live under the same rules. Dem Congressmen and women were evidently onboard with it then.....in order to get Obamacare passed. But now, the Dems want it changed.
Petty nonsense....why give them Obamacare and not Medicare? How about we make them work for minimum wage also? How about require they live on social security since they expect us to?
So JP5, are you complaining about this effect, or simply saying Democrats should shut up and accept it? I mean, you do realize this has nothing to do with Obamacare in general, and is all about a specific provision inserted by Grassley?
No, it's about them NOT WANTING Obamacare because it would cost too much and change the way they do business according to them. Those same things were said by private citizens and companies and you, the Left, poopooed it.
If that's the case, then your description is flawed. The problem is that the government currently provides subsidized insurance, just like most employers. Grassley's amendment pushes Congressional employees into the exchanges, which is a place for buying *individual* insurance. That has people worried that the subsidies go away. And if they do, their premiums will roughly triple. Does Obamacare force private employers to drop their share of premiums and push all employees onto the exchanges? No. So this is a particular -- and particularly punitive -- measure. It is *not* an example of treating Congress the way similarly situated private employees are treated. Which is why one of the proposed fixes is to simply allow the government to continue the subsidies. Because the core issue is the subsidies, not where employees buy their insurance.
We've known from the start that this healthcare plan was not a complete picture of healthcare reform, not after Ted Kennedy died and Scott Brown was elected. The concessions made by the left to even get the existing plan passed left too many incompletes in the reform to actually function the way it needs to. And of course, we all know that this was for nothing more than political reasons. The right couldn't afford to let it actually succeed and work, so they were happy with concessions that created small obstacles like this. Of course, the OP itself states that "if nothings done" about it, then such and such happens. Isn't this the same environment as the debt ceiling and every other system that neither side can actually come to a concensus on? We'll get down to deadlines every year or 6 months where they'll kick the ball down the field a little so that they can keep a hostile feud at the front of all conversation, rather than solve real problems and let us settle into something that works completely, instead of almost completely. Our system is completely broken and it's NOT because the right isn't getting their way. It's because of politics and nothing more.
Can we afford to subsidize premiums? If not then we shouldn't be doing it. Everybody needs to tighten their belt, especially the politicians. When we get around to a discussion of term limits, zero retirement benefits, and pay raises voted on by the general public only, count me in.
The Democrats passed the ACA it all on their own. It wasn't "bi-partisan", they did it all themselves. Health Care as we know it is going to turn into one huge chaotic mess starting next year. People will demand to know how this happened and who did this. Ooopppss! There they are so jubilant over the passing of the ACA they had to parade around with a big gavel and brag about it. Nov 2014 is going to make Nov 2010 pale in comparison.
Most employers -- and every large employer -- pays the majority of their employees' insurance premiums -- typically about 2/3. My company, for instance, pays 70% of my premium. So I see no issue with the government doing so for their employees. You can oppose those subsidies, but that's not a criticism of Obamacare. Okay.
Ray, that's ridiculous! If it wasn't for Obamacare, this story wouldn't have been written and this thread wouldn't even exist!
Thats the bottom line. They're no better than anyone else. If this plan was good enough for citizens, it's good enough for them. Nothing to fix.
It’s an ill wind that blows no good. ObamaTax may be a form of term limits. Even hyper-Leftist Politico.com notices.
The issue exists by on of the more ludicrous demands of Republicans and their blackmail. The amendment Grassley authored forces the workers to drop their healthcare plans from their jobs, and go onto the exchanges with no mechanism for their job to pay the portion of insurance the currently pays for in their benefits. Its not even something that is part of general Obamacare. It ONLY applies to Congressional jobs, and the Obamacare doesn't cost any more than the current insurance, it the Grassley amendment simply prevents these Congressional jobs (and ONLY Congressional jobs) from having ANY health care benefit at ALL. The usual Republican stumblebum clueless idiocy as they show they are happy to screw ANYBODY to try to make themselves look good.
FiddlerDave answered you effectively, but if you want it in my own words: http://www.politicalforum.com/curre...denly-dont-like-obamacare.html#post1062741377
I love it. You are (*)(*)(*)(*)(*)ing about the Grassley amendment that forces the workers to drop their healthcare plans from their jobs and defending a law that forces the entire country to purchase insurance or pay a fine!
And here's my response to both of you I love it. You are (*)(*)(*)(*)(*)ing about the Grassley amendment that forces the workers to drop their healthcare plans from their jobs and defending a law that forces the entire country to purchase insurance or pay a fine!
Like the 2 employees I overheard while grabbing lunch today at Stop and Shop. Employee 1 to Employee 2 ...."Did you get whacked this week on your hours too? Employee 2 to Employee 1 ....."yep I sure did. This is happening across the nation to many. Their jobs are reducing hours as to not have to provide HC at all, forcing employees to go without or get their own. I dont see the difference. Good enough for the people....good enough for them.
If congress with its 6 figure salaries and multi million dollar staffs can't afford the rate hikes, what about everyone else? What was the point of obamacare again?
Contrary to the lies shown in this thread's title, right wingers love Obamacare. Do a Google for Arizona's Jan Brewer, or Texas's Rick Perry and their sudden epiphany in discovering how beneficial it is.
Oh son! Deflecting already?...lmao! Raytri, maybe next time your liberal horde will read the (*)(*)(*)(*)ing bill before passing it. Can't believe your defending these ass hats to the lengths you are. They want out of Obamacare b/c they will have to pay more. Funny Raytri, we have been saying that all along, now b/c it's gonna hit Congress' pocketbook to, they want to (*)(*)(*)(*) and moan about it and throw a 4 year old temper tantrum and say "I quit", and here you and the rest of the evil horde are to back them up. And we wonder why this country has gone to (*)(*)(*)(*) in a hand basket.
