The fix is in. Lawmakers and staff can breathe easy their health care tab is not going to soar next year. The Office of Personnel Management, under heavy pressure from Capitol Hill, will issue a ruling that says the government can continue to make a contribution to the health care premiums of members of Congress and their aides, according to several Hill sources. A White House official confirmed the deal and said the proposed regulations will be issued next week. Just Wednesday, POLITICO reported that President Barack Obama told Democratic senators that he was personally involved in finding a solution. The problem was rooted in the original text of the Affordable Care Act. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) inserted a provision which said members of Congress and their aides must be covered by plans created by the law or offered through an exchange. Until now, OPM had not said if the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program could contribute premium payments toward plans on the exchange. If payments stopped, lawmakers and aides would have faced thousands of dollars in additional premium payments each year. Under the old system, the government contributed nearly 75 percent of premium payments. Obamas involvement in solving this impasse was unusual, to say the least. But it came after serious griping from both sides of the aisle about the potential of a brain drain. The fear, as told by sources in both parties, was that aides would head for more lucrative jobs, spooked by the potential for spiking health premiums. read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/08/capitol-hill-obamacare-crisis-solved-95100.html I say scandalous!!!! So they don't have to abide by the law they passed for the rest of us subjects, huh??? The ruling class has become totally disconnected from the people. Unfortunately, there are no political consequences. Will the GOP challenge Obama on this? First corporate America gets a pass for a year for the mandate, now Congress gets a pass...Oh but not the individual mandate. Is this right and fair???
I dont understand how obama can change a law with the wave of his hand? Kinda looks like everyone gets screwed except obamas pals...
If waivers are permissible under the Act, then it is not changing the law. Do you ever think that both houses of congress would vote to change their benefits to anything less then they are now? Just like the chances of them reducing their pay has about as much chance of happening as an asteroid hitting the planet.
This is how Progressives rule, always have and always will. - - - Updated - - - You like the idea of an elite ruling class don't you? You ALWAYS protect them and offer excuses for them abusing their power. ALWAYS!
No, it isn't. But neither are a thousand other perks these "public servants" receive. These pompous elitists in DC have completely reversed their role as "servants" to "rulers". While the rest of country has seen wages stagnate, Pelosi demands a raise to dignify her position. While the rest of are forced into compliance of the ACA, they exempt themselves. While the rest of us face the trials of real life on a daily basis, they're insulated, protected from the publics struggles through laws & rules they themselves put in place. Hell, they closed access to the WH, the peoples house, and you haven't heard a peep from any of them demanding it be reopened! We are living the "fundamental change" Obama promised he'd deliver and, unfortunately, the elite media, a tight nit group of socialist reformers themselves, favor "elitist class rule for the common good" so much they'll lie to promote it. It's maddening & sickening to watch.
Firstly Obama has NO authority to do any such thing.ObamaCare is law. He has to abide by whatever the Bill authorizes.The fact that he's made it a priority to just up and declare exemptions for certain Business's is bad enough.Right there reeks of corruption.Far worse than Cronyism. Borderline Tyranny.This is what takes place in Banana Republics.
Congress always has the power to exempt itself from its bills. Sometimes it's written right in, for example Congress exempted itself from any affirmative action requirements they put into law. They exempted themselves from prohibiting Christian prayer before their sessions. There's a long history of this. And I agree it's annoying. But blaming Obama for this long-standing practice is a stretch.
So they will be able to retain the healthcare package they already have at the same cost, wow, just like you can, simply amazing.
They always have been, do you take a polygraph to get a job? They don't. Do you take a drug test for a job? They don't. Do you get to vote on your own raises? They do.
WHAT! This is HIS signature law, his legacy piece of legislation, the one Pelosi said would be LIBERATING! Yet he feels the need to exept the very people who pushed it on us! Damn right I blame OBAMA. He's a POS and so are the ass clowns who shoved this POS law on us but demand protection from it for themselves.
We have two Americas.... the Super Rich, Government Bureaucrats, Union Types, and Poor in one category.... and the rest of us in another. The rest of us are attack constantly by the first category as they want more and more of our earnings.
Yes it is, but neither of the two Parties want to change anything and people such as myself get stuck in the middle watching nothing get done, beware the number of us stuck in the middle are growing and what happens next is up to the leadership of both Parties.
Just shut up and knuckle under. That's the regime's expectation. There are next to no media consequences either. They fear loss of access if they drop a dime on the Scumbag-in-Chief.
Wouldn't it be a wonderful gesture if those lawmakers who voted for this bill would voluntarily sign themselves and their families up for coverage, whether they are exempt or not?
the Super Rich (and corporate pirates), Government Bureaucrats, Union Types, and Poor in one category = Rent seekers. They take the power of the state and steal my life energy.
obama is truly a benevolent ruler.... He merely waves his hands and bountiful gifts fall on his loyal subjects. All hail his majesty, and rejoice in the harvest he hath provided.
