By: Congressman Ron DeSantis To have what Lincoln called a government “of the people, by the people, and for the people” requires, at the very least, that those who make the laws also live under those laws. Modern American government has strayed from this principle in numerous ways. Today brings news that the Senate Majority Leader has exempted his key staffers from ObamaCare. Section 1312(d) of the law provides: “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, after the effective date of this subtitle, the only health plans that the Federal Government may make available to Members of Congress and congressional staff with respect to their service as a Member of Congress or congressional staff shall be health plans that are—(I) created under this Act (or an amendment made by this Act); or (II) offered through an Exchange established under this Act (or an amendment made by this Act).” In plain English, this provision ends the current congressional health benefits and mandates that members and congressional staff be put into the exchanges. The idea is that since the law is forcing millions of Americans out of their health plans and into the exchanges, Congress should share this same fate. If a chef refuses to eat his own cooking, then that is probably a pretty good indication that you should eat at a different restaurant. Note that the quoted staffer claims the Majority Leader is following the “law.” This is false. The law is reprinted above. It is true that the Obama administration issued an administrative rule purportedly allowing members of Congress to exempt their staffs from ObamaCare, but this rule conflicts with the statute. The executive branch cannot override the statute and members of Congress should follow the law as written. Imposing burdens on others while relieving yourself of those same burdens is not exactly what Lincoln had in mind when he spoke of a republican system of government. breitbart/Big-Government/2013/12/04/Harry-Reid-Allows-Staff-to-Exempt-Themselves-from-Obamacare
Posted on: Thu, 05 Dec 2013 00:53:14 +0000
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