Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Read The Fine Print Part IV: ObamaCare may leave Congress without heath coverage

Does anyone need any more proof that no one read this bill before it became law? In this case the consequences come with delicious karma to bite all of Congress in the butt. 
The New York Times: WASHINGTON — It is often said that the new health care law will affect almost every American in some way. And, perhaps fittingly if unintentionally, no one may be more affected than members of Congress themselves.
In a new report, the Congressional Research Service says the law may have significant unintended consequences for the “personal health insurance coverage” of senators, representatives and their staff members.
For example, it says, the law may “remove members of Congress and Congressional staff” from their current coverage, in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, before any alternatives are available.
[SNIP] 
The law apparently bars members of Congress from the federal employees health program, on the assumption that lawmakers should join many of their constituents in getting coverage through new state-based markets known as insurance exchanges.
But the research service found that this provision was written in an imprecise, confusing way, so it is not clear when it takes effect.
The new exchanges do not have to be in operation until 2014. But because of a possible “drafting error,” the report says, Congress did not specify an effective date for the section excluding lawmakers from the existing program.
Under well-established canons of statutory interpretation, the report said, “a law takes effect on the date of its enactment” unless Congress clearly specifies otherwise. And Congress did not specify any other effective date for this part of the health care law. The law was enacted when President Obama signed it three weeks ago.
I hope they have to go though the public humiliation of passing another reconciliation bill to fix this hot mess. It ridicule that will be heaped on Democrats from the right would be richly deserved.  

Nancy’s words are going to echo through time.

3 comments:

Christopher - Conservative Perspective said...

Very interesting to be sure.

If true (not a legal scholar here) this would be yet another nail in the socialists coffin.

Just imagine the vote as being in Americans interest?

Even better, imagine the political ads;
"The dems want to raise your taxes to pay the Chinese for congressional health care"

Janelle said...

Every piece of legislation should be footnoted, if you write it, you own it.

Osumashi Kinyobe said...

Schadenfreude, anyone?

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