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| Finally Some Good News About Obumblecare |
| 2013-06-13 |
| 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. Democratic and Republican leaders are taking the issue seriously, but first they need more specifics from the Office of Personnel Management on how the new rule should take effect — a decision that Capitol Hill sources expect by fall, at the latest. The administration has clammed up in advance of a ruling, sources on both sides of the aisle said. If the issue isn’t resolved, and massive numbers of lawmakers and aides bolt, many on Capitol Hill fear it could lead to a brain drain just as Congress tackles a slew of weighty issues — like fights over the Tax Code and immigration reform. The problem is far more acute in the House, where lawmakers and aides are generally younger and less wealthy. Sources said several aides have already given lawmakers notice that they’ll be leaving over concerns about Obamacare. Republican and Democratic lawmakers said the chatter about retiring now, to remain on the current health care plan, is constant. Rep. John Larson, a Connecticut Democrat in leadership when the law passed, said he thinks the problem will be resolved. “If not, I think we should begin an immediate amicus brief to say, ‘Listen this is simply not fair to these employees,’” Larson told POLITICO. “They are federal employees.” Republicans, never a fan of Democratic health care reform, are more vocal about the potential adverse effects of the provision. “It’s a reality,” said Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas). “This is the law. … It’s going to hinder our ability with retention of members, it’s going to hinder our ability for members to take care of their families.” He said his fellow lawmakers are having “quiet conversations” about the threat |
| Posted by:Jay Carney |
| #11 Listen this is simply not fair to these employees,'" Larson told POLITICO. "They are federal employees." Too f@@king bad. It's even worse out here in the private sector, you federal ticks need to face the real world. Maybe you elitist a-holes should have read the bill and actually debated what was in it before you passed it. Time to eat the dogfood you are force feeding to the nation. Good riddance. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2013-06-13 23:40 |
| #10 It is so charming to see the youth of America thinking they can get a better deal in the private sector. |
| Posted by: rammer 2013-06-13 21:50 |
| #9 "If not, I think we should begin an immediate amicus brief to say, 'Listen this is simply not fair to these employees,'" Larson told POLITICO. "They are federal employees." (No, he's not related to me.) Their being Federal workers means they can afford to pay for this crap-sandwich more readily than most Americans. |
| Posted by: eLarson 2013-06-13 21:35 |
| #8 Far more lucrative to be a K Street lobbyist working to manipulate the system they already know is broke when they wrote and passed it. Employment for life program. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2013-06-13 20:12 |
| #7 "If not, I think we should begin an immediate amicus brief to say, 'Listen this is simply not fair to these employees,'" Larson told POLITICO. "They are federal employees." This is precious - apparently federal employees are more equal than regular employees. |
| Posted by: Rambler in Virginia 2013-06-13 18:57 |
| #6 Bobby, since none of the Congresscritters who voted for it, actually read it, it is no surprise that they are just discovering this now. Maybe they can convince Sebelius to give them an exemption, like she's given to a lot of other favored groups. |
| Posted by: Rambler in Virginia 2013-06-13 18:55 |
| #5 Why is it that Congress never considered that possibility, Rambler? Maybe they should just pass a law that denies the Prez an exemption. WHo'd pay for O? |
| Posted by: Bobby 2013-06-13 18:45 |
| #4 Of course, Congress can just pass a law exempting themselves and their aides from the law. Problem solved (for them). |
| Posted by: Rambler in Virginia 2013-06-13 15:15 |
| #3 A brain drain on Capitol Hill? More like a draining of the swamp. |
| Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2013-06-13 14:17 |
| #2 Subsidies make things more expensive they never make things more affordable. |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2013-06-13 13:15 |
| #1 They are actually seeing what is happening to the rest of the US, and they don't like it. Maybe they should have read it before passing it? Also live with it you fuckers. You forced this abomination on us and you will have to deal with it like the rest of us! Or better yet abolish it! |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2013-06-13 12:08 |