A Republican Congressman found himself in hot water after he drafted a new version of the controversial healthcare plan. The plan included a provision that would allow members of Congress and their staff to keep the most popular parts of Obamacare, which the rest of the country would not receive.
The new version of plan would allow states to waive Obamacare’s praised ban on preexisting conditions, which means that insurance companies could once again deny coverage to sick people. Apparently, Republican lawmakers liked this provision enough to keep it for themselves, but didn’t like the rest of the country enough to offer it to them. A spokesperson for Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-N.J.), who authored the amendment, confirmed this to a Vox reporter yesterday.
When news of this hypocrisy hit the internet, the backlash was immediate. MacArthur issued a statement today saying he would work to eliminate the exemption:
“Congressman MacArthur does not believe Members of Congress or their staff should receive special treatment and is working with House Leadership to make absolutely clear that Members of Congress and staff are subject to the same rules, provisions, and protections as all other Americans.”
Yeah, you’ve changed your tune now that you’ve been caught, eh?
And that aide who penned the exemption? He claimed that he included it by request of the Senate Budget Committee, in order to comply with the rules of Senate reconciliation.
A spokesman for the Senate Budget Committee, however, says that is untrue:
“We did not write it, did not draft it, and did not add it.”
Despite the amusing blame game between the various federal offices, the hypocrisy is concerning. Had sharp eyes not alerted us to this Republican sleight of hand, the provision may have eventually slipped into the final bill unnoticed. A government by the people, for the people? Maybe not.
Check out this report for more information on how the GOP is trying to screw Americans a second time:
Featured Image: Screenshot Via YouTube Video.
