Health bill may exempt top Hill staffers

[donheld]

The health care reform bill signed into law by President Barack Obama Tuesday requires members of Congress and their office staffs to buy insurance through the state-run exchanges it creates – but it may exempt staffers who work for congressional committees or for party leaders in the House and Senate.

Staffers and members on both sides of the aisle call it an “inequity” and an “outrage” – a loophole that exempts the staffers most involved in writing and passing the bill from one of its key requirements.

The bill requires “congressional staff” to buy insurance from the exchanges – with a stipend from the Office of Personnel Management But page 158 of the bill defines “congressional staff” narrowly, as “employees employed by the official office of a member of Congress, whether in the district office or in Washington.”

The Congressional Research Service believes a court could rule that the legislation "would exclude professional committee staff, joint committee staff, some shared staff, as well as potentially those staff employed by leadership offices.”



Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/34900.html#ixzz0jFYVCmVj

ok sue me, it's politico.

[woodsprite]

1. I thought someone on here said this wasn't true and had a link

to the verbage. I'm trying to find out to refute my a$$hat duo of my SIL/BIL.

[donheld]

2. That link would be lovely. It's why I posted this

I have a friend who posted it on facebook. I'd love to see it refuted.

[SpartanDem]

3. No this true

the oft repeated lie that Congress itself is exempt is not true, but it seems due to a mistake that it doesn't apply to some staff.

[LiberalFighter]

4. Based on what I have seen on staff assignments it would cause severe headaches to manage it.

It would be less of a hassle if they offer the same insurance as congressional staff.


After reading the legislation pertaining to this issue I would have to disagree with the so called Congressional Research Service. I know they should be experts but even experts screw up.

REQUIREMENT.—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).

(ii) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
(I) MEMBER OF CONGRESS.—The term ‘‘Member of Congress’’ means any member of the House of Representatives or the Senate.
(II) CONGRESSIONAL STAFF.—The term ‘‘congressional staff’’ means all full-time and part-time employees employed by the official office of a Member of Congress, whether in Washington, DC or outside of Washington, DC.

The language requires congressional staff to be enrolled but doesn't require the other group. But it also, doesn't prohibit that group from being enrolled. The question that needs to be clearly answered is the definition of a qualified individual eligible to participate.

[fryguy]

5. no no no no no

stop echo-chambering the right wing talking points.

the myth has been soundly debunked here: http://mediamatters.org/research/201003250022

[donheld]

7. That's what i was looking for.

[dkf]

6. What else are they supposed to buy?

Are they giving extra options to a limited group?