Otherwise, their might be a “brain drain”
(Politico) 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.
We certainly can’t blame the Republicans, who want the law gone in the first place. Democrats, though, could be in a bit of trouble if they vote to exempt Congress, the White House, and their staffs.
There is concern in some quarters that the provision requiring lawmakers and staffers to join the exchanges, if it isn’t revised, could lead to a “brain drain†on Capitol Hill, as several sources close to the talks put it.
Doesn’t a “brain drain” on the Hill assume that there are “brains” there to begin with?
Didn’t we hear that as a reason Congress-critters should also continue to get their yearly salary increase?
Sorry, but it is time to cap AND TIE their salary to equal the avg salary of American citizens’.
Based on the legislation, fiscal policy, etc, this may be a case of book learning vs real world brains….nah, they’re mostly all nuts.