Loophole Lets Dozens of Minnesota Congressional Staff Opt Out of Key Healthcare Reform Requirement

big government ^ | 4/10/10 | Tom Steward

[Nachum]

More than 100 staff members appointed by three Minnesota congressmen who serve as chairman or ranking member on powerful House committees appear to be exempt from a key requirement in the controversial health care reform bill recently passed by Congress and signed into law.

According to a Freedom Foundation of Minnesota (FFM) review of the state congressional delegation’s committee assignments, it appears that 115 committee staff of Congressmen James Oberstar, Collin Peterson and John Kline might be able to opt out of the requirement to purchase their health coverage through new state-run insurance exchanges.  “Forcing millions of Americans into government-run exchanges while exempting high-level staffers is the height of Washington arrogance,” Congressman John Kline told FFM. “If it’s good enough for Americans on Main Street, it ought to be good enough for Democrats’ favored staff members.” While members of Congress and their personal office staff must participate in state insurance exchanges under the new health care reform law, language tucked away in Section 1312 of the 2,076 page bill appears to let hundreds of committee and leadership staff in the House and Senate off the hook and keep their current federal coverage.

[Nachum]

The list, ping

[marron]

Its funny, and telling, that they have all exempted themselves.

[Regulator]

As Mr. Orwell noted, under the Communists, some pigs will be more equal then others.

In Russia this week I learned that Stalin and Lenin had fleets of expensive cars purchased for themselves and their chosen ones. Stalin particularly like Packards.

"Health Care" under Obama will be the same.

[UCANSEE2]

I’m shocked. Completely shocked.

[MplsSteve]

WELCOME TO FREE REPUBLIC’S MINNESOTA PING LIST!

134 MEMBERS AND GROWING...!

FREEPMAIL ME IF YOU WANT ON OR OFF THIS LIST!

[ntmxx]

Think unequal access and adverse impact and these are why the supposed healthcare bill is unconstitutional; nothing more than a tax and control scheme placed on the American public for the benefit of the political class.

[rhema]

And guess who's the only Congressman who'll seek to remedy the inequity?

Kline, who voted against the health care reform bill, has co-sponsored legislation to repeal the loophole, as well as the overall enabling legislation. “I’ll fight to eliminate this outrageous carve-out and ensure no member or congressional staffer gets a better deal than the American people,” Kline said in a statement.

Neither Oberstar nor Peterson responded to an FFM inquiry on whether they believe the exemption represents a double standard or if they favor repealing the loophole and requiring committee staff to get coverage through state-run exchanges the same as their constituents.

[bert]

It doesn’t matter if they are exempt if no doctor will treat them,

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Why am I not surprised ?

[Melchior]

If this is true for Minnesota, it must be true for all states.

[Jabba the Nutt]

Here's a ready made issue to run against these congressmen with. People already hate ObamaCare and these b*st*rds are forcing us into it, while exempting themselves.

I have another suggestion, require all Federal employees to go on MediCaid or another government run health system. They could go to the VA, the Indian Health Service or a government doctor of their choice.

Who's running against these turkeys?

[Colonel_Flagg]

Neither Oberstar nor Peterson responded to an FFM inquiry on whether they believe the exemption represents a double standard or if they favor repealing the loophole and requiring committee staff to get coverage through state-run exchanges the same as their constituents.

Oberstar never will. I just wonder if I can somehow get a supply of that man's 'delusional pills'. They might come in handy in the months and years to come.