© nicolasjoseschirado, fotalia.
Rethuglicans are still hard at work, trying to figure out how to repeal the ACA, without working overly hard on the whole ‘replacement’ aspect. The more egregious parts of the repeal ‘n’ replace have kept some conservatives from getting on board, but Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-NJ) has come up with a cunning plan: we’ll exempt members of congress and their families! Now we can screw over all those peons and stay safe, yay! Disgusting asshole.
A new amendment to the Republican ObamaCare replacement bill exempts members of Congress and their staff from its effects.
The new changes to the bill would allow states to apply for waivers to repeal key ObamaCare provisions, such as the protection against people with pre-existing conditions being charged more and the requirement that insurers cover a range of health services, like prescription drugs and mental health.
The GOP amendment exempts members of Congress and their staffs to ensure that they will still be protected by those ObamaCare provisions.
The exemption was flagged by health law professor Tim Jost.
Democrats quickly jumped on the development, arguing that Republicans are willing to take away protections for the general public, but not themselves.
“The best evidence yet that the new GOP repeal plan is a disaster for people’s health care is that the GOP exempted Members of Congress from living under it,” said Leslie Dach, director of the Protect Our Care Campaign, one of the main groups fighting repeal.
The amendment is helping to woo some conservatives, who argue that the ObamaCare regulations are driving up premium costs, and note that high-risk pools would be able to fill the gap.
Via The Hill.
Congress should be required to experience the worst healthcare available to any constituent.
The compensation and benefits of Congress (and all politicians at any level) should reflect the median compensation and benefits of their constituency.
Marcus, #1
That’s a great idea. Everyone in Congress should go through a two year period where they and their family have a health plan equal to the worst health plan available to their base.
I have a feeling the idea of their spouse and children suffering from a healthcare disaster would have them singing a completely different tune very quickly.
The GOP amendment exempts members of Congress and their staffs …
Gee, it didn’t limit that exemption to Republicans? I guess McArthur qualifies as what they call a “moderate Republican” these days.
Marcus Ranum & Saad @ # 1-2 -- do y’all really want our legislators to endure privations that leave them desperate to grab any and every inducement offered, such that only millionaires could even consider that line of work and retain any independence?
Pierce, #4
Well, I’m saying they have average pay and benefits, not be in a state of squalor.
How about the politician relinquishes their wealth (in excess of a determined amount) to the treasury upon inauguration? Surely that would keep the millionaires out.
Saad @ # 5: How about the politician relinquishes their wealth (in excess of a determined amount) to the treasury upon inauguration?
That would at least keep The Donald™ out -- but too late now.
Here in sunny Florida, the current governor, owner of a statewide (and probably beyond) chain of quick-care centers, immediately upon taking office starting pushing a drug-tests-for-welfare-recipients scheme -- conveniently implemented through quick-care centers. That produced a fair amount of fuss, and the legislature finally let the idea die, but it did force Gov. Scott to divest himself of those businesses.
To his wife.
Setting up such deals in a truly ratproof way will require constant monitoring and upkeep -- the weak spot of all democracies and republics, I suspect.
Dang it. Government is hard. :(
What we need is a long line of unwavering SJW absolute monarchs.