Can the President change the congressional medical plan?

[Fresh_Start]

My employer changes it every year and its always worse...I say put the legislature into the same medical plans as the rest of us.

[Bobbieo]

1. Now, that would be just great!!!!

[Fresh_Start]

2. I notice that pensions aren't in the Constitution

so to save the Government money, the executive branch should move Congress into the same 'no pension' options that we the citizens have.

[treestar]

3. they are not his employees

[Fresh_Start]

6. but he is the Chief Executive of the entire USA

which includes the budget for Congress

[Angry Dragon]

8. But they are our employees

[Raven]

4. Wouldn't that be interesting! I suspect the House and the Senate

get to vote on their health plans as well as their retirement benefits. Maybe Obama should file a bill and let them vote it down.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

5. IIRC the legislative branch pretty much does it own thing

I would agree that they should go on the same Federal Employee Health plan that all civil servants have the option of buying.

[Skidmore]

7. Wonder what would happen if there was a march on Congress

demanding that they change their plan??? Take it to their door.

[Fresh_Start]

9. The Tea Party ought to put that golden goose on the table

in the interest of reducing the size of government and the deficit

[CreekDog]

10. Congress has the same medical plans as all Federal Employees

And, no, Obama can't unilaterally change that in the way you suggest (though you probably don't know/think that congresspeople have the same health plans as other government workers --but they do!).

And Obama can't do it for the same reason he can't withhold their paychecks if he wanted to.

[Fresh_Start]

12. actually they have better medical benefits

According to FactCheck

"Members of Congress also qualify for some medical benefits that ordinary federal workers do not. They (but not their families) are eligible to receive limited medical services from the Office of the Attending Physician of the U.S. Capitol, after payment of an annual fee ($491 in 2007). But services don’t include surgery, dental care or eyeglasses, and any prescriptions must be filled at the member’s expense.

House and Senate members (but not their families) also are eligible to receive care at military hospitals. For outpatient care, there is no charge at the Washington, D.C., area hospitals (Walter Reed Army Medical Center and National Naval Medical Center). Inpatient care is billed at rates set by the Department of Defense."

[CreekDog]

14. well those are definitely perks beyond the employee program

:hi:

[City Lights]

11. If I had a magic lamp, that would be my first wish. nt

[MineralMan]

13. No. The Executive Branch is just one of the branches of

government. President Obama has absolutely zero power over the Congress. Zero. The branches are separate and more or less equal, with different duties. The Constitution lays it all out. You might want to read it.