If the new health care law signed by President Obama is as wonderful as supporters would have you believe, why doesn't it apply to everyone in the government? The legislation never applied to the President or the Vice President, and I suspect that no one ever expected, or wished, otherwise. We ordinary citizen types "get that." Yet some may be surprised to learn that none of the bills considered ever included members of the Administration.
Now, it seems that these exemptions may go even further than that. Senator Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), a physician himself, told a group of reporters (3/23/10) that "The American people will be appalled to learn the health care bill exempts (Congressional) leadership and committee staff." The Lamestream media has had a field day with this political football, since it was Coburn's own language that was included in the final legislation.
So, let's clear up the details so we can get to the substance here. First, the Congressional Research Service has interpreted the language to mean that "it appears possible" that these folks may be exempted. Secondly, Senators Coburn and Grassley have tried to fix the problem with the language, but to no avail – at least as yet. There – is everyone happy now?
