Posted on 12/16/2013 4:36:44 PM PST by mdittmar
Though a staunch Obamacare critic, Sen. Marco Rubio has enrolled his family in one of its health plans and will accept a $10,000 federal subsidy that some fellow Republicans rejected as a “special deal.”
Rubio on Monday defended his decision to receive the annual subsidy and said it wasn’t that special.
“It’s an [employer] contribution,” Rubio said. “It’s available to every employee of the federal government.”
Rubio pointed out that, as a member of Congress, he’s required to enroll in an Affordable Care Act plan if he wants health insurance through his employer, the federal government.
But while Rubio’s position is technically correct — he is receiving a type of insurance contribution from his employer that’s common in government and the private sector — his decision to accept the subsidy poses political risks for the 2016 GOP presidential hopeful.
Rubio’s decision has drawn fire from Democrats, who charge him with hypocrisy, and puts him at odds with some Republicans who are refusing to accept the federal contribution money in a protest of the Affordable Care Act.
Others have shied away from the subsidy to insulate themselves from political attacks that Congress is enjoying a special perk under Obamacare.
So far, about 10 other senators and a handful of U.S. House members have rejected or avoided receiving the annual subsidy.
Rubio said he would vote to do away with the subsidy if it applied to everyone equally. Until then, he’s keeping the money.
(Excerpt) Read more at miamiherald.com ...
One of the "I took it because it was there" crowd.
He DOES know he stands zero chance at being nominated and only a small chance of being re-elected, right?
Might be a good time to resign.
I think the deduction for mortgage interest is wrong. I took it [so did you]. No hypocrisy there, just rational self-interest.
Nope, Marco just dice "adios" to winning a presidential primary in Florida.
Hasta la vista, Marco, baby.
Leni
Its obvious what he is.
Now we know what his price is.
Marco Rubio is BEYOND amazing ....
Is Rubio saying, that if us peons were to get the subsidy, he would vote against it?
Sorry for the confusion. I have never held a mortgage.
A Republican can’t win on this issue in the MSM.
The NYT shredded Cruz because his wife provides a gold plated policy from her employer Goldman Sachs.
See #10
...and #13
Lost in the bubble.
The John A Boner kind.
ACA is a brand new monster that we have about one more year to kill. It doesn't inspire confidence to have our representatives signing up for it.
He just resigned, whether he realizes it or not. He’ll probably find work as a lobbyist though, now that he’s named is price and it’s cheap.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.