I do not get why we the people do not challenge congressional exemption as unconstuitional? Human nature tells me they are not solving our problems because the problems are not theirs. No one talks about it because there is nothing that can be done? if true, freedom has been gone for a while. Exemption, segregates and takes the skin out of the game. The only difference between Republicans and Demacrats is what they say prior to election, after that they are all in the same club. There are a few execptions, but very few.
Over 1200 organizations received Temporary Waivers (valid only to 2014). HHS documents show that the vast majority of those waivers went to labor unions representing 543,812 workers. By contrast, private employers waivers covered just 69,813 employees.
Permanent Waivers, however, excuse over 3 million people - federally recognized Indian tribes, members of a recognized health care sharing ministry (such as Amish and Mennonites), those whose income is so low they were not required to file an income tax return, those who would have to pay more than eight percent of household income for the cheapest premium, those who are in jail, and those who have a certified hardship that makes them unable to obtain coverage.
So what did the Republicans do to try to kill the pork exemptions?
Last year, they drove efforts to eliminate exemptions but ran into heavy opposition from unions representing federal workers (ironically and deceitfully these were the same unions that lobbied heavily to help the Democrats stick the rest of us with Obamacare – they just didn’t want it for themselves).
So, the Republicans then tried for a scaled-down amendment and actually got it out of committee. It mandated Obamacare for members of Congress and their staff. After Harry Reid got his hands on it, a “Congressional Leadership and Committee Staff” loophole was inserted.
Republicans tried to close the loophole - it was blocked by Senate Democratic leaders. Republicans tried to extend the law to senior members of the executive branch including the president, vice president and Cabinet members - also blocked by Senate Democratic leaders.
So, who are the good guys? And who are the bad guys? And where was the media exposé ?
It will take a majority of the hosue and senate to roll back "special" benefits for congress and then the presidents signature. Our best bet may be to enact the 28th Amendment and make retroactive.
Proposed 28th Amendment
"Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and/or Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and/or Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States."
