U.S. Chamber of Commerce Drops Crusade Against Obamacare

eba.benefitnews.com ^ | JANUARY 14, 2014 | ELLIOT M. KASS

[Qbert]

In a striking about face, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce will no longer seek the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, working instead to correct what it sees as its flaws.

It was three years ago this month, during his annual State of American Business address, that the Chamber’s president and CEO, Tom Donahue, labeled the ACA “unworkable” and called for its repeal. During last week’s address he softened his views, calling instead for business-friendly adjustments to the new law.

“The administration is obviously committed to keeping the law in place, so the chamber has been working pragmatically to fix those parts of Obamacare that can be fixed -- while doing everything we can to make regulations and mandates as manageable as possible for businesses,” Donohue said during the speech. “In 2014, we will work to repeal onerous healthcare taxes; repeal, delay or change the employer mandate; and give companies and their employees more flexibility in the choice of health insurance plans.”

Acknowledging that outright repeal of the employer mandate -- already delayed until January 2015 -- is unlikely, the Chamber’s executive director, Katie Mahoney indicated that the group might be satisfied with some modifications. Specifically, the Chamber wants a change to the law’s definition of full-time employees from those working 30 hours a week to those working 40 hours or more. Under the ACA, large employers with 50 or more full-time employees must provide them with health coverage starting next year.

[Publius]

What has the GOP ever done when they controlled the WH and Congress that materially changed anything, or made the Federal Bureaucracy smaller?

The purpose of the Republican Party at the national level is to distribute money and favors to its prized constituencies, just as it is the purpose of the Democratic Party to do the same for its own prized constituencies.

[Menehune56]

Considering that the ACA could allow the Chamber to unload the cost of employees’ health care onto the tax payers, how could they lose?

I believe crony capitalist businesses have been quietly supporting ACA for a long time.

[theBuckwheat]

Under socialism, the “conservative” candidate for office will try to appeal to voters by assuring them that he reduce the cost of government by runing the socialist programs more efficiently than the socialists ever did.

Think this is satire? Think about all the support that public education gets from Republicans.

The answer to socialism is to replace it with a free market. The last thing a free people need is efficient socialist programs.

[Lazamataz]

In a striking about face, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce will no longer seek the repeal of the Affordable Care Act

Color me SO surprised.

We are in Fascism, which should more accurately be called Corporatism.

It is when government teams with business to plunder the country.

[freedomfiter2]

I’ve had it with the US Chamber of Commies. They are a far greater enemy of America than the Islamo-fascists could ever hope to be.

[Oatka]

In a striking about face, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce will no longer seek the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, working instead to correct what it sees as its flaws.

Mark Steyn strikes again. Some time back he wrote that Republicans were like their European Conservative counterparts - they never repealed a Sooialist law, just claimed they could make it work better.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Only way to fix its flaws is to gut it, root and branch.

[Paulus Invictus]

Forgive me, but didn’t Mooschelle just join the AARP? Does that mean that I will now be pursued, fined and possibly jailed because I dumped The AARP years ago? Should I worry?

As for the Chamber of Strange Commerce, those guys have totally jumped the commie shark and are bent upon forcing the spineless Pubbies to pass an amnesty law. If they do, I’ll never vote for any one of them ever again! They propose to allow the illegals to permanently invade and become RATS for free food, housing, health care and transporation. We are lead by horrendous people with no guts, no brains and no conscience. The gummint is now advertising Food Stamps in Mexico just to stimulate more wetbacks than ever before. Are we toast yet?

[SunkenCiv]

...three years ago this month... Tom Donahue, labeled the ACA “unworkable” and called for its repeal. During last week’s address he softened his views, calling instead for business-friendly adjustments to the new law.

Don't like the bastard, but the CoC could scarcely do anything else. It still commits to working against it however it can. Thanks Qbert.

[AllAmericanGirl44]

bkmk

[The Toll]

HA! U.S. Chamber of Comerce? Isn’t that a moving company now?