"Republicans’ health care plan must be pretty bad if they don’t even want it for themselves. Senate Republicans included a provision that exempts members of Congress and their staff from part of their latest health care plan, which could ensure that members of Congress have coverage for a wider array of benefits than other Americans who purchase their own coverage. Republicans apparently think it’s okay . . .”
Legislation should never be exempted for Congress or anyone employed by the government. If it applies to all Americans why should it not be applicable to members of Congress and the President of the United States as well?
Evidently the House of Representatives, at least as far as health care is concerned, believes that too. In May, they unanimously passed Representative Martha McSally’s legislation to prevent Members of Congress and their staff from being exempt from the State waiver provisions of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) as amended.
“’Any law we pass that applies to our constituents must apply equally to Members of Congress as well. Anything short of that is hypocrisy. Congress must abide by the laws it passes and should be treated no differently than other hardworking Americans,’ said Rep. McSally. ‘My measure eliminates double standards by preventing Members of Congress from exempting themselves from American Health Care Act.’
Due to Senate procedural rules within the Budget Reconciliation process, the MacArthur Amendment to the American Health Care Act would exempt Members of Congress and their staff. Rep. McSally’s legislation, H.R. 2192, is a standalone two-page bill that would repeal this exemption for Members of Congress should the American Health Care Act become law. The measure passed the House by a vote of 429-0.
" . . . to keep their health care bill intact while making it unaffordable for millions is "hypocritical and nonsensical. We will fight back against their disastrous plan,” -- Senator Sanders
By Sarah Kliff
