Not surprising, but outragous nonetheless

[maxiep]

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/co...e-exemption-report-2013-08-02?dist=tcountdown

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/08/capitol-hill-obamacare-crisis-solved-95100.html?hp=t1

http://www3.blogs.rollcall.com/wgdb...-health-care-for-lawmakers-staff-is-resolved/

I don't care whether or not you support the ACA, but I think we all agree it should be fairly applied to everyone. It's bullshit that simply because Congress fears losing their staff due to increases in rates that they should negotiate a fix for themselves.

Call your local congressman and both your senators and tell them if they vote for this fix or, if there is just a policy put in place and they don't create legislation to reverse it, they lose your vote.

Senator Ron Wyden (D- OR) 202-224-5244 202-228-2717 http://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/

Senator Jeff Merkley (D- OR) 202-224-3753 202-228-3997 http://www.merkley.senate.gov/contact/

Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D - 01) 202-225-0855 202-225-9497 https://bonamici.house.gov/contact-me/email-me

Representative Greg Walden (R - 02) 202-225-6730 202-225-5774 https://walden.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=117§ …

Representative Earl Blumenauer (D - 03) 202-225-4811 202-225-8941 https://forms.house.gov/blumenauer/webforms/issue_sub …

Representative Peter A. DeFazio (D - 04) 202-225-6416 202-226-3493 https://forms.house.gov/defazio/IMA/contact.html

Representative Kurt Schrader (D - 05) 202-225-5711 202-225-5699 http://schrader.house.gov/contact/

 

[maxiep]

If you don't know who your members of Congress are, here's a site where you can find out and get their contact information: http://www.contactingthecongress.org/

 

[maxiep]

Did anyone bother to call their Congressman or Senators? Am I the only person bothered by this kind of deal?

 

[BlazerWookee]

I'm going to.

 

[maxiep]

For the record, I made eight calls--One to Diana DeGette (my CO rep), one to Kurt Schrader (my OR rep), calls to Sens, Wyden, Merkley, Udall and Bennet and finally to the most important GOP congressmen in each state, Rep. Walden and Rep. Gardner. The calls were illuminating.

A couple of staffers just took my complaint. Others tried arguing with me, telling me that it was just keeping their healthcare they way they had it. I responded that we had to change our healthcare for our firm and that it was only fair to share the burden of the ACA. No one said they were going to do anything about it. Both Democrats and Republicans are in on this fix, and it stinks to high heaven.

A pox on both their houses.

 

[donkiez]

I think this is BS also but I need to read up first. Seems they are still tied to the exchanges but now the fed foots the bill? How is this different from a private employer paying for my premium?

 

[maxiep]

I think this is BS also but I need to read up first. Seems they are still tied to the exchanges but now the fed foots the bill? How is this different from a private employer paying for my premium?

Is your employer keeping your coverage the same and you're paying the same contribution? I bet that's not the case.

 

[ABM]

Did anyone bother to call their Congressman or Senators? Am I the only person bothered by this kind of deal?

I did.

I contacted Wyden, Merkley, and Schrader telling each of them that they would lose my vote of they support this travesty in any way, shape, or form.

 

[maxiep]

For those not familiar with the healthcare program available to Congress, it's as good as you can get. Far beyond what I have ever seen in the private sector. They wish to keep that same level of health care and not pay extra for it, even though the premiums are going to increase substantially. My position is that if these people wish to pass laws by which the rest of us must abide, they should be impacted the same way.

They're making this change, this increase in subsidies, because they're afraid of losing their employees to the private sector where they can make more money. My response is, "tough shit". It's much easier to find a job in DC than it is most other places in this country. Imagine what it is like when you don't have the option of finding a higher-paying job.

This is hypocrisy of the highest order.

 

[BlazerWookee]

For those not familiar with the healthcare program available to Congress, it's as good as you can get. Far beyond what I have ever seen in the private sector. They wish to keep that same level of health care and not pay extra for it, even though the premiums are going to increase substantially. My position is that if these people wish to pass laws by which the rest of us must abide, they should be impacted the same way.

They're making this change, this increase in subsidies, because they're afraid of losing their employees to the private sector where they can make more money. My response is, "tough shit". It's much easier to find a job in DC than it is most other places in this country. Imagine what it is like when you don't have the option of finding a higher-paying job.

This is hypocrisy of the highest order.

Plus, fuck Washington DC.

 

[blazerboy30]

This is absolutely horrendous. And yet, the public will let it go and ignore it because they are more concerned about what Kim Kardashian is up to.

 

[MarAzul]

Is your employer keeping your coverage the same and you're paying the same contribution? I bet that's not the case./[/url]

I won't know what my former employer is going to do until October or November. But I suspect
it will not be good. I don't know but maybe I will only need to figure out what to do for my wife.

I just got a letter in the mail today from the VA informing me that they will pickup any bill I run up for emergency care at a non VA facility. All I need to do is have someone call them withing 72 hours I don't know if this is new or I just never knew about it until now. I always used my insurance before, perhaps now I won't have any?? November!

 

[Eastoff]

I did.

I contacted Wyden, Merkley, and Schrader telling each of them that they would lose my vote of they support this travesty in any way, shape, or form.

Just curious, did you vote for any of them in the first place? Or Maxie for yours? FOr the record it does sound a little shady, but I understand their point.

 

[maxiep]

Just curious, did you vote for any of them in the first place? Or Maxie for yours? FOr the record it does sound a little shady, but I understand their point.

How do you understand their point? That they shouldn't have to experience the effects of legislation they passed? That they should go to the American people and have them pay for it?

"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."

 

[Masbee]

Did anyone bother to call their Congressman or Senators? Am I the only person bothered by this kind of deal?

I don't understand what the big deal is.

Yeah, yeah, it seems unfair - sort of.

But aren't all they doing is making a regulatory decision to pay for 75% of the price of healthcare in the exchange where the law itself was unclear?

Law says nothing about how to handle this.

They make a decision to keep the staffers more or less whole. Though they are putting them in the exchanges, which is a change to their old benefits, right?

Where is the problem?

Unless your problem is with the ACA itself.

In which case, you should be calling your Republican reps and DEMAND they support Cruz and a few others trying to drum up support to defund the ACA.

That, ultimately is the only possible true fix. Whining about congressional staffers doesn't seem all that helpful.

 

[maxiep]

I don't understand what the big deal is.

Yeah, yeah, it seems unfair - sort of.

But aren't all they doing is making a regulatory decision to pay for 75% of the price of healthcare in the exchange where the law itself was unclear?

Law says nothing about how to handle this.

They make a decision to keep the staffers more or less whole. Though they are putting them in the exchanges, which is a change to their old benefits, right?

Where is the problem?

Unless your problem is with the ACA itself.

In which case, you should be calling your Republican reps and DEMAND they support Cruz and a few others trying to drum up support to defund the ACA.

That, ultimately is the only possible true fix. Whining about congressional staffers doesn't seem all that helpful.

My company received notice to expect a 40% increase in our health insurance rates next year. My wife's company received notice to expect rates to climb 33%. Neither of our firms will eat that increase; it will be passed through to our employees. The choice we're both facing (I'm a partner in my firm and my wife sits on the board of her company as well as being CFO) is to keep the same level of coverage and raise the cost or lower the coverage and keep the cost the same.

The government should have to make the same choice. Their costs are going to climb dramatically. Instead of passing those costs onto their employees or lowering the coverage, they just hand the bill to the American people and expect us to pay more so they don't have to bear the burden of their legislation.

As for what is an effective method of getting them to live up to the bills they pass, threatening your vote is all you can do. After all, they are supposed to represent us, not just line their pockets.

 

[ABM]

Just curious, did you vote for any of them in the first place? Or Maxie for yours? FOr the record it does sound a little shady, but I understand their point.

Nope. Doesn't mean that I can't send a strong message to them, though.

 

[MARIS61]

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/co...e-exemption-report-2013-08-02?dist=tcountdown

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/08/capitol-hill-obamacare-crisis-solved-95100.html?hp=t1

http://www3.blogs.rollcall.com/wgdb...-health-care-for-lawmakers-staff-is-resolved/

I don't care whether or not you support the ACA, but I think we all agree it should be fairly applied to everyone. It's bullshit that simply because Congress fears losing their staff due to increases in rates that they should negotiate a fix for themselves.

Call your local congressman and both your senators and tell them if they vote for this fix or, if there is just a policy put in place and they don't create legislation to reverse it, they lose your vote.

Too late. As far as my vote, they've got nothing to lose.

 

[donkiez]

So I agree in principle max, and a huge part if what I liked about ACA was that congress had to play by our rules, but I'm still considering all the angles here. Would it be fair to cut 100% of their health care as it seemed that was going to happen? Also are we sure that their new plan will cost the tax payers more money? They are not actually keeping the same plan they had, benefits may end up the same, but they are forced to shop the exchanges for them right? It could turn out that overall cost to the tax payer goes down?

The way I see it, there needs to be some sort of limit to keep them from purchasing the super ultra gold ferrari package with no regard for the cost. Is that considered at all with this?

 

[maxiep]

So I agree in principle max, and a huge part if what I liked about ACA was that congress had to play by our rules, but I'm still considering all the angles here. Would it be fair to cut 100% of their health care as it seemed that was going to happen? Also are we sure that their new plan will cost the tax payers more money? They are not actually keeping the same plan they had, benefits may end up the same, but they are forced to shop the exchanges for them right? It could turn out that overall cost to the tax payer goes down?

The way I see it, there needs to be some sort of limit to keep them from purchasing the super ultra gold ferrari package with no regard for the cost. Is that considered at all with this?

The choice Congressmen and their staffers are being put into the exchange. That exchange will include that unbelievable health care program they have right now. I mean, you see whoever you want, whenever you want and pay nothing. It's incredible. However, without the increased subsidies, that plan will become heinously expensive to those Federal employees.

The bigger problem is staffers don't make very much (the low level people tend to be children of large donors that are subsidized by their families) and they have more lucrative offers working for lobbying firms.

So Congress is faced with a choice: Do they pass through the massive increases to keep their current health care system or do they tell their employees to take a less comprehensive health care package? They chose a third way: They are going to have us pay for it.

These people either voted for this law, helped pass this law or haven't opposed it vociferously enough. They need to live with the law they passed. If they don't like it, they are free to leave Congress and/or risk losing their staff. Perhaps if they have to live under the laws they pass, they may not pass so many stupid ones.

 

[PapaG]

This is absolutely horrendous. And yet, the public will let it go and ignore it because they are more concerned about what Kim Kardashian is up to.

OMGerd what did Kim Kardashian do now??

 

[PapaG]

So I agree in principle max, and a huge part if what I liked about ACA was that congress had to play by our rules, but I'm still considering all the angles here. Would it be fair to cut 100% of their health care as it seemed that was going to happen? Also are we sure that their new plan will cost the tax payers more money? They are not actually keeping the same plan they had, benefits may end up the same, but they are forced to shop the exchanges for them right? It could turn out that overall cost to the tax payer goes down?

The way I see it, there needs to be some sort of limit to keep them from purchasing the super ultra gold ferrari package with no regard for the cost. Is that considered at all with this?

Perhaps there should have been time to read the fucking bill and have a national debate before passing it overnight, just hours after releasing it. I know that's asking a lot, though.

Instead, here is what Dem leadership said about it when questioned about it. Pass it first, debate it later. Welcome to DC.

[video=youtube;hV-05TLiiLU]

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I did.

I contacted Wyden, Merkley, and Schrader telling each of them that they would lose my vote of they support this travesty in any way, shape, or form.

But you didn't vote for any of those.

 

[ABM]

But you didn't vote for any of those.

Read what I said later.

 

[DaLincolnJones]

Did anyone bother to call their Congressman or Senators? Am I the only person bothered by this kind of deal?

hmm I did what I believed would take it one step further, I spoke with Lars Larson, to my sadness he believes it was a fore gone conclusion

they take care of their own, not us

 

[maxiep]

Can a mod please correct my spelling error in the title and replace it with "outrageous".

 

[maxiep]

Just as I figured. For cover, the Administration just had HHS do it as a waiver. It never came up for a vote. Special treatment for special folks. The rest of us get to pound sand.

I plan to go to my town hall meetings and voice my opposition directly to my representatives.

 

[MarAzul]

Just as I figured. For cover, the Administration just had HHS do it as a waiver. It never came up for a vote. Special treatment for special folks. The rest of us get to pound sand.

I plan to go to my town hall meetings and voice my opposition directly to my representatives.

I hope you have a rep that will care. It is a complete waste time talking to the democrats here in Oregon. Peter Defazio, Merkley, and even Wyden do not have a clue there is a Constitution.

I still send them letters but the responses are a joke. Their staffs usually thank you for supporting their position no matter how strenuously you express disapproval.

 

[maxiep]

I hope you have a rep that will care. It is a complete waste time talking to the democrats here in Oregon. Peter Defazio, Merkley, and even Wyden do not have a clue there is a Constitution.

I still send them letters but the responses are a joke. Their staffs usually thank you for supporting their position no matter how strenuously you express disapproval.

Diana DeGette is awful. However, I plan to ask her how she justifies--as a good Democrat--having the American people subsidize the increased costs for her and her staff that we are expected to bear ourselves.

 

[DaLincolnJones]

Diana DeGette is awful. However, I plan to ask her how she justifies--as a good Democrat--having the American people subsidize the increased costs for her and her staff that we are expected to bear ourselves.

hold on there Maxie..your question defines her agenda..