Democrats Ask Republicans Supporting Health Care Repeal To Forgo Their Own Coverage

[DearAbby]

Progressive Democratic legislators are crying foul at recent reports that GOP Congressman-elect Andy Harris (R-Md.) complained about the limitations of his congressional health care plan, unveiling a new letter asking such health care reform naysayers to forfeit their own federally provided insurance coverage.

"You cannot enroll in the very kind of coverage that you want for yourselves, and then turn around and deny it to Americans who don't happen to be Members of Congress. We also want to note that in 2011, the Federal government will pay $10,503.48 of the premiums for each member of Congress with a family policy under the commonly selected Blue Cross standard plan," a letter to GOP leaders signed by Reps. Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.), Donna Edwards (D-Md.), Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) and Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.) and provided to Politico reads. "If your conference wants to deny millions of Americans affordable health care, your members should walk that walk."

Politico reported Tuesday that Harris, a supporter of Republicans' "repeal the bill" efforts, had piped up during a recent freshman orientation session to decry the nearly one-month waiting period between his swearing in and the commencing of his health care coverage. In his subsequent effort to find a solution to this problem, he asked if he couldn't purchase temporary government-provided insurance to tide over the lapse in coverage, a proposal that rings of the "public option," a failed addendum to the health care reform package that had been demonized by Harris himself.

"It is important for the American people to know whether the members of Congress and members-elect who have called for the repeal of health insurance reform are going to stand by their opposition by opting out of the care available to them at the expense of hard-working taxpayers," the Democrats wrote in their letter. "We look forward to your response in the coming days about exactly how many of the members in the Republican conference will be declining their taxpayer-supported health benefits."

More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/17/democrats-republicans-health-care_n_784771.html?ref=fb&src=sp

[EnlightenedOne]

1. Now, THAT is the way you fight back.

[democrat_patriot]

2. It's. About. F-in. Time.

They need to repeat this mindset for everything they can. It makes look like just what they are. Hypocrites

[JoePhilly]

5. I've been saying the same thing for over a year.

Why can the GOP members in Congress, deny us the same coverage they DEMAND for themselves.

[BadgerKid]

15. +(1e+03). n/t

[knitter4democracy]

3. I sure wish I had insurance and not just for a month between plans.

Idiots. Self-centered idiots.

[Oceansaway]

4. K&R...n/t

[Jim__]

6. I hope this gets wide media coverage. - n/t

[prolesunited]

10. I don't know about the media

but this is now linked on my Facebook page.

[myrna minx]

7. This is a very good idea.

It's making me nervous. :rofl:

[RainDog]

8. and they should cut their benefits while they're at it. n/t

[mfcorey1]

9. Way to go!!!! Call them out and tell them to put up or shut up!!!

[xultar]

11. Do I see some balls growing?

[gratuitous]

12. Oh dearie me! How un-bipartisan!

Heavens to Betsy, such talk! Be on the lookout for a veritable frenzy of pearl-clutching. And be advised that the most dangerous place to stand will be between any of the popular media talking chuckleheads and the nearest fainting couch. This could just wreck the poor dears until they can get their practiced elbows to the next cocktail party for a bracing drinkie-poo.

How absolutely heartless of those progressive Democrats.

[Jefferson23]

13. See that! It is not that hard to call them out...keep it up until they scream uncle! n/t

[Quantess]

14. Awesome, but they really need to make a big stink out of this

otherwise nobody will even notice.

[Poboy]

16. I love this. More please. -nt

[bluetrain]

17. Right on, finally.

[Uncle Joe]

18. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, DearAbby.:thumbsup:

[callous taoboy]

19. YES. Nail them to the wall with their hypocrisy!

[Mimosa]

20. Great strategy, for a change. n/t

[NNN0LHI]

21. We need people at these teabagger town halls asking them loudly about their gubment run health care

That is the only way the media will cover it.

Don

[Janice325]

22. All I can say is

OH, SNAP!!! :fistbump:

If I could k&r, I would, but bumping anyway. :applause: