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House GOP Mulls CR with Vitter Amendment (Sword of Damocles)
National Review ^ | September 28, 2013 6:39 PM | Robert Costa

Posted on 09/28/2013 10:04:41 PM PDT by 11th_VA

House Republican insiders acknowledge a shutdown is increasingly likely, due to House conservatives’ aversion to passing a “clean” continuing resolution that simply funds the government. But the leadership isn’t ready to concede defeat. Behind the scenes, Speaker John Boehner and his allies are finalizing their strategy for the eleventh hour: a last-minute CR play.

Here’s how it could unfold, according to sources familiar with the leadership’s closed-door deliberations.

First, the House passes a CR today that delays Obamacare’s implementation for one year and repeals the medical-device tax. This legislation will almost certainly die a quick death in the Senate.

Should that happen, the House will send another bill back. The leadership is mulling several options. At the top of the list is a revised CR that includes the Vitter amendment, authored by Senator David Vitter (R., La.), which would eliminate Obamacare subsidies for congressional staffers and members.

The leadership thinks that a final CR with Vitter’s language would put them on solid political ground, even if Senate Democrats resist. In that scenario, and the government shut down, Republicans would argue that Democrats shut down the government to protect their perks.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
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To: 11th_VA
Not enough.

There are more than 1200 other exemptions in Obamacare, for unions, connected businesses and entire states. The Vitter amendment ends subsidies/exemptions for certain Federal employees - perhaps the most glaring examples of the unfairness built into the plan, but are only the tip of the iceberg IMHO.

Nothing is said about the Christian organizations who are commanded to comply in violation of their religious beliefs while Muslim organizations get waivers.

What about the one-year reprieve that big employers get, that individuals do not?

21 posted on 09/28/2013 10:39:47 PM PDT by ZOOKER (Until further notice the /s is implied...)
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To: 11th_VA
Re: “First, the House passes a CR today that delays Obamacare’s implementation for one year.”

Freaking unbelievable!

EVERY DEMOCRAT in Congress wants a delay that will get them past the 2014 election.

And Boehner just hands it to them!

22 posted on 09/28/2013 10:40:14 PM PDT by zeestephen
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To: gasport

Don’t use the newspeak, call the Dems what they are. REDS.


23 posted on 09/28/2013 10:43:35 PM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (Resist We Much)
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To: Steve1789; JediJones; 11th_VA; OneVike; gitmo; Lancey Howard; Vendome; Mygirlsmom; ...
RE :”This amendment, while not what we need, puts the Democrats in an indefensible position.”

You got it. And the GOP house was visibly working to night while Reid and Obama are on vacation,

I been suggesting this for weeks. Imagine Reid having to get Senate votes for this, or explaining why he is shutting down government to protect this.

Remember, a shutdown still funds congresses and their staffs Obama-care bribe.
Lets see who in congress stands up to protect their special perk that we don't get.

Fight Reid, fight Obama!

24 posted on 09/28/2013 10:44:11 PM PDT by sickoflibs (To GOP : Any path to US Citizenship IS putting them ahead in line. Stop lying about your position)
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To: GeronL; gitmo; JediJones
RE “”As the HHS Secretary may determine”... Obama will just tell HHS to give them the exemptions anyway:

Even though this would forbid that and everyone will know that as this fight progresses?? Great!

This CR only lasts a few weeks and the debt limit fight is coming up too. Lets pray they do what you say.

25 posted on 09/28/2013 10:49:35 PM PDT by sickoflibs (To GOP : Any path to US Citizenship IS putting them ahead in line. Stop lying about your position)
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To: Steve1789
The GOP needs to remind the democrats that cutting Congress out of FEHB was the "law of the land" until Obama changed it unilaterally.

That does leave me wondering if the federal government will pay a fine to itself for not insuring congressional employees.

26 posted on 09/28/2013 10:50:56 PM PDT by USNBandit (sarcasm engaged at all times)
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To: sickoflibs

The House should send back to the Senate the CR, with the Vitter amendment, *plus* language eliminating *all waivers* granted since ObamaCare was passed. My preference would be for them to attach all 2,700 pages of the original ObamaCare bill as passed in 2010, but I’m not sure that would override the OPM deal to pay 72% of our congresscritters insurance premiums.


27 posted on 09/28/2013 11:04:50 PM PDT by kevao (Biblical Jesus: Give your money to the poor. Socialist Jesus: Give your neighbor's money to the poor)
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To: zeestephen
Did you LISTEN to any of the debate today?
I guarantee you that every member of the Congressional Black Caucus wants Obamacare to start ASAP!
28 posted on 09/28/2013 11:09:05 PM PDT by Kansas58
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To: kevao
RE The House should send back to the Senate the CR, with the Vitter amendment, *plus* language eliminating *all waivers* granted since ObamaCare was passed.:”

Great idea. Eliminating the HHS(Obama)power to grant ANY waivers

I liked the house action tonight but this will change the terms of the debate against Obama and Reid and remember, its only a few week CR and the debt limit fight is coming up where polling is against Dems by 60%.

Beat Dems on this then go into the next one stronger.,

29 posted on 09/28/2013 11:11:37 PM PDT by sickoflibs (To GOP : Any path to US Citizenship IS putting them ahead in line. Stop lying about your position)
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To: kevao

This is a chance to get Obama care to polls down even more like 20%

Imagine GOP going into the next fight with that.


30 posted on 09/28/2013 11:15:10 PM PDT by sickoflibs (To GOP : Any path to US Citizenship IS putting them ahead in line. Stop lying about your position)
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To: 11th_VA

The problem here is that Vitter’s language is already in the bill. In a lawless society, the law really doesn’t mean much. The original bill required all members of Congress to drop their federal insurance in 2011. That didn’t happen, nor do I see them dropping it in 2014 regardless of what new amendments get added.


31 posted on 09/28/2013 11:19:32 PM PDT by Hoodat (BENGHAZI - 4 KILLED, 2 MIA)
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To: Viennacon; 11th_VA; OneVike

“Touche. Vitter’s ammendment snookers Reid into looking like an elitist cryptkeeper.”

But you know what’s going to happen? Reid & the rats will let the Vitter amendment go through and sometimes later on a friday when no one is paying attention Dumb’O will sign one of his EO to restore the subsidies. Laws don’t mean anything to this crowd.


32 posted on 09/28/2013 11:20:14 PM PDT by aquila48
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To: Jim Robinson; Viennacon; Mygirlsmom
RE :”Well, I’m very happy they’re still putting up a fight. Praying they come through for freedom”

This is chance to really weaken Dems clinging to Obama-care.
How can they defend their own special O-care perk?
How does Reid and Obama?

How does Reid tell his Senate Dems they must vote to lose it?

Now imagine a shutdown over Dems defending this O-care bribe.

I loved the House play tonight too, Reid and Obama on vacation again.
I see a ray on sunshine breaking through.

33 posted on 09/28/2013 11:21:25 PM PDT by sickoflibs (To GOP : Any path to US Citizenship IS putting them ahead in line. Stop lying about your position)
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To: 11th_VA

I got a good Idea!!! if the government shuts down The House and Senate loose their pay for the year add that to the bill!!!


34 posted on 09/28/2013 11:22:54 PM PDT by tallyhoe
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To: aquila48
Reid & the rats will let the Vitter amendment go through and sometimes later on a friday when no one is paying attention Dumb’O will sign one of his EO to restore the subsidies.

Normally, yes. But after Cruz's 21-hour stand the other day, all eyes are on ObamaCare right now. The timing is optimal -- the fortunate among us who still have employer-sponsored insurance are getting their open-enrollment packets this week (mine is a 13% premium increase, which doesn't seem so bad -- that is, until you look at the co-pay and deductible increases), and those who've been forced out onto the public exchanges are in for one hell of a shock, provided they're in a state where they can even determine what their premiums (and, more importantly, your co-pays and deductibles) are.

There will be so many disillusioned, pissed-off people in the next few weeks....

35 posted on 09/28/2013 11:31:40 PM PDT by kevao (Biblical Jesus: Give your money to the poor. Socialist Jesus: Give your neighbor's money to the poor)
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To: GeronL

Exactly.


36 posted on 09/28/2013 11:36:27 PM PDT by funfan
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To: kevao

Exactly, people need to stop focusing on the premiums. Obamacare is designed for catastrophic coverage and things like flu shots, that’s it. The out of pocket and deductibles are enormous. And doctor choice and availability is probably tightly controlled.


37 posted on 09/28/2013 11:41:15 PM PDT by sunrise_sunset
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To: Kansas58

Because most of their constituents will get it for free and they can use their obamphones to phone in prescriptions.


38 posted on 09/28/2013 11:42:32 PM PDT by funfan
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To: sickoflibs

It’s too likely to me Obama would cave if that’s the only provision added to funding Obamacare. And then where does that get us? I’d be happy to increase Congress’ and staffers’ pay by 100% and give them gold-plated health care if they abolish all of the abortions, mandates, taxes and subsidies that the rest of Obamacare puts into place. The idea of Congress getting an exception to the bill is minor compared to the rest of the horrors associated with it.


39 posted on 09/28/2013 11:54:08 PM PDT by JediJones (The #1 Must-see Filibuster of the Year: TEXAS TED AND THE CONSERVATIVE CRUZ-ADE)
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To: funfan
No, not at all. See : #25
40 posted on 09/28/2013 11:55:02 PM PDT by sickoflibs (To GOP : Any path to US Citizenship IS putting them ahead in line. Stop lying about your position)
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