HR 4951: Bill to Fix HCB Loophole which Exempts The President and Congress

Washington, Mar 26 – Last night Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-Texas), Chairman of the Congressional Health Care Caucus, introduced H.R. 4951, which would fix the loophole that exempted certain staff, as well as Administration officials, from participating in the exchanges created by the Democrats’ flawed health care bill. Burgess’ bill, which has 26 original co-sponsors, including Republican Leader John Boehner, requires participation by the President, Vice President, political appointees, all Members of Congress, and all Congressional staff, including committee and leadership staff.

“I believe that the expansion of government control over health care was the wrong approach to take in health reform,” Burgess said. “Regardless, the Democrats’ flawed bill is now the law of the land, and if Americans must abide by the law, then all Members of Congress and their staff, as well as the President, Vice President, and political appointees, should also. If this exchange is good enough for millions of Americans, as Democrats contend, then it should be good enough for the politicians who pushed so hard for this bill’s passage.”

“Over the objection of the American people, President Obama and Democrats in Washington have forced through an unpopular, unaffordable health reform bill that is propped up by backroom deals. One of those deals ensured that these same individuals don’t have to get the government health care that they force millions of Americans into. This is wrong, and Dr. Burgess’ bill would fix this loophole,” Leader Boehner said.

On page 157 of the Democrats’ health bill, a provision mandates that Members of Congress and their staff purchase insurance within the health insurance exchanges. Unfortunately, the definition of “congressional staff” can be interpreted to exempt shared employees, leadership staff, and committee staff. The President, Vice President and Executive Branch appointees are also curiously exempt from participation in the exchanges. Burgess’ bill closes this loophole.

“My bill closes the loophole that exempts certain individuals from being covered by plans operating in an exchange. Congress and this Administration should stop asking the American people to make sacrifices they are not willing to make themselves,” Burgess continued.

Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, who has attempted numerous times to fix this loophole, introduced companion legislation in the Senate, S. 3174.

Outsource the Presidency??

Just an idea that I am sure Obama overlooked….

Obama Defers to another World Leader (Again)

First it was his bow to Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah at a G20 meeting in April. This time, Japan. Obama was in China, having wrapped up the Japan leg of his Asia trip two days earlier he then takes a deep bow at the waist while meeting Japan’s Emperor Akihito. “I don’t know why President Obama thought that was appropriate. Maybe he thought it would play well in Japan. But it’s not appropriate for an American president to bow to a foreign one,” said one critic. I believe however the The way operative word is “thought.” Does Obama really think a lot about what he does? His arrogant self-absorbed reflection of himself seems to make it hard fro him to see beyond his own self.

The bow certainly plays into the image that President Obama is overtly apolegetic during his overseas trips and repeatedly making apologies for past US actions and policies.

The Heritage Foundation points out: “ Does the president understand the difference between a bow and a kowtow? The Japanese media certainly do. They did not distribute the embarrassing photo of the president and the emperor to the Japanese people. Instead they chose to distribute the more conservative greeting shared between the President and the Emperor’s wife. The Japanese know the bow would demonstrate weakness on behalf of President Obama, and neither Japan nor the United States would benefit from this impression.“

So, it is interesting that even Japan sees the bow as an embarassment, but, because of it they did not distribute it. (Clearly that notion is lost on the US media). A senior Obama administration official said Obama was just observing protocol. “I think that those who try to politicize those things are just way, way, way off base,” the official. And if we were to give merit to that comment, then why is it that Obama does not know US protocol and that he should respect the US flag & the pledge of allegiance with a hand over the heart?