Let them live under the rules they seem to like so much
(Daily Caller) Arguing federal workers should not get special treatment, Rand Paul says he does not want taxpayers subsidizing the personal health care plans of any federal employee — including Chief Justice John Roberts — anymore.
With some in Congress arguing lawmakers and their staff should not get subsidies to cover their health insurance as President Obama’s health care law goes into effect, the Republican senator from Kentucky told The Daily Caller on Sunday that he’s going to start pushing a constitutional amendment that goes even further.
Paul’s proposal — outlawing any special exemptions for government employees — would mean all federal workers would have to purchase health insurance on the new Obamacare exchanges instead of getting taxpayer-funded subsidies. Some critics say those subsidies amount to special treatment. The Obamacare health insurance exchange opens Oct 1.
He should go further with it and make sure that all White House workers, including the President, have to live under the same rules. This is both a good and bad idea. First, politically, it would force Democrats who love Obamacare to take a stand, either for or against living under the same rules established for the rest of the country. You can bet that Harry Reid will table the proposed Constitutional amendment, never allowing it to come up for a vote, which is damning in itself.
On the bad side, having all federal workers on Obamacare actually is part of the endgame, which is single payer. The more people on the government controlled exchanges the better.
I don’t understand why Paul would push this as a constitutional amendment, instead of a change in law. Sure, it would be a route with which Obama has no power to veto. There’s no way he gets a 2/3rds vote in the Senate, and could be tough in the GOP controlled House. Is it possible to get 2/3rds of the State legislatures to call for a Constitutional Convention? Twenty seven legislatures are controlled by Republicans. 17 Democrat. 5 split. 1 non-affiliated (Nebraska). He needs 33.
However, this is about optics. Sure, he would love this to pass. But this puts the notion that federal employees, including Congress, the POTUS, members of the Supreme Court, et all are exempt from Obamacare, a law that is still highly unpopular.
While I love the energy and passion from these new GOP congress members, sometimes, they are boneheaded.
An amendment?!?! Yeah, this has to be pure optics. No way this will pass let alone make a change in law.
First off, aren’t all fed employees already bound by ObamaCare? (GC: Or was that just Congress?) I thot it was all fed people.
If Obama and his cronies fail to uphold the law as written, then hold him and his agency heads accountable. Impeach or fire them.
[…] Senate, if it even makes it out of committee. As to the Constitutional amendment, which I mentioned the other day, he should first bring it up in the Senate, and find a fellow Republican to bring it […]
[…] Senate, if it even makes it out of committee. As to the Constitutional amendment, which I mentioned the other day, he should first bring it up in the Senate, and find a fellow Republican to bring it […]