Which makes me surprised that GOP Fifth District Congressional candidate Susan Brooks went out of her way to state something blatantly false about Congress and the Affordable Care Act (aka "Obamacare"). In a handout on her website, Brooks makes this statement:
The link is here: http://www.susanbrooks2012.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Restoring-Public-Confidence-in-Congress-Website-Handout2.pdfOne strong criticism of the Affordable Health Care Act is that Congress attempted to exempt itself from compliance, which is a strong signal to Americans that Congress does not have to live by the same rules.
The problem is, it is completely false. Members of Congress ARE governed by Obamacare, under Section 1312 of the Act. The Congressional Research Service was asked to look into this, and concluded:
the only health plans that the Federal Government may make available to Members of Congress and congressional staff with respect to their service as a Member of Congress or congressional staff shall be health plans that are--
(I) created under this Act (or an amendment made by this Act); or
(II) offered through an Exchange established under this Act (or an amendment made by this Act).The report is here: http://healthlawandlitigation.com/PDF/crs-on-health-care-fines.pdf
Other than perceived political gain from bashing Obamacare, why would Brooks utter such a blatant falsehood? This may be appealing to her right-wing base, but it is not going to fly with voters who actually check out what candidates claim.
If she would make such a utterly false statement about this, what else does she claim which is not true?
To borrow the phrase from Politifact, I rate this one: PANTS ON FIRE!
The truth has increasingly been invisible in the current political dialogue. My wife always makes fun of me for having read the entire ACA. How can I speak of it, defend it, and critique if I don't know what's written inside and be able to draw my own opinions, free from the 24 hours news cycle? I guess some would call that research. Unfortunately, the research of some entails reading made-up email forwards and facebook posts. Just moved to Hamilton County from Decatur Township (Jon Easter's neck of the woods). When are the Hamilton County Meetings?
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it be nice...? Too bad it's not exactly correct. The problem (one of) with the ACA, is that it mandates that the most basic policy have a lot of coverage. That will make policies more expensive. (It's just one of the things that will make health care costs increase and policies to follow them up). It also sets a very low, relative to the new expensive premiums, tax penalty for not providing your employees with health insurance. Many co's, especially those who are having their other taxes raised, will not have the revenues to pay for these higher premiums and will need to terminate their health insurance programs and pay the less expensive penalty tax.
ReplyDeleteDumped out into the health insurance exchange market, many people will be left to try and buy health insurance on a local exchange, many might not be able to afford the higher premiums so they too will chose to pay the "cheaper" tax penalty. Now "luckily," in the short term, they may actually be "better off." They won't have to pay any health insurance premiums and if they get hurt or get really sick they can then apply for health insurance and it will be covered because there's no pre-existing condition exclusion. How long until many people figure that one out. ***
So, how is it true that Congress isn't covered by the same ACA laws as the rest of us? Well, is the US Govt not going to be able to pay these higher premiums? Are they going to dump the Congress and their staffs out into the exchanges to pay for all of the premiums by themselves? NO. So, Congress isn't exactly going to feel the same sting of ACA as the rest of us are they?
*** and that's the real point of the ACA. What will happen when all of these people wait to pay premiums only after they get hurt or get sick and face thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions of medical bills? How will the private health insurers afford this? What will happen when thousands or millions of people are confronted with the mandate caused premium increases? They will cry out to the Federal Govt, "Save us, Save us! The Federal Govt will of course have to create their own insurance company to answer the people's "prayers." This will add even further pressure to the private insurers. Who can compete against a govt insurer that has no need to make a profit? So, faced with thousands of claims by people who have paid no premiums and a competitor who has no need to make a profit, how long will private insurers be able to remain in business? No long.
I'm sure you and President Obama and those like you will think this is great. I just wish you all would be more honest with the American people about what your plans are and tell them the truth.
tmisetic: The Hamilton County Democratic Club meets the 4th Wednesday of each month at Mudsocks Grill, 146th and Hazel Dell. Dinner and social hour is at 6, business meeting and speakers start at 7. The club also has a Facebook page.
ReplyDeleteFor other Hamilton County Democratic Party news and events, visit the party website, http://hcdemocrats.org/.