Democrats Press GOP Lawmakers to Turn Down Government Health Care

Andy Harris

/ http://www.andyharris.com

A group of House Democrats has released a letter to Republican congressional leaders calling on them to announce which of their members will be forgoing their congressional benefit health insurance (which is subsidized by the government) in light of their party's opposition to health care reform overhaul legislation.

"If your conference wants to deny millions of Americans affordable health care, your members should walk that walk," four Democrats write in the letter, which is addressed to Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and House Republican leader John Boehner. "You cannot enroll in the very kind of coverage that you want for yourselves, and then turn around and deny it to Americans who don't happen to be Members of Congress."

According to the letter, the federal government pays more than $10,000 of the premiums of each member of Congress who has a family policy under the most selected plan.

The signatories on the letter are four liberal lawmakers: Joseph Crowley of New York, Linda T. Sanchez of California, Donna Edwards of Maryland and Tim Ryan of Ohio. They sent a separate letter to other Democratic colleagues asking them to sign onto the effort.

The Democrats say they were spurred to press Republicans to announce their position by news that Andy Harris, a conservative incoming Republican House freshman, had complained that he would not receive his government-subsidized health care coverage until Feb. 1, a month after he is sworn into office.

Harris campaigned against the health care bill, which is projected to provide coverage to more than 30 million previously uninsured Americans, and his party is vowing to "repeal and replace" it.

In their letter, the Democrats write they were "surprised" to see Harris complain that "there is a delay before benefits take effect. Ironically, this is the same predicament millions of Americans currently find themselves in."

"We also find it interesting that members of the Republican conference would have no problem taking away health coverage from hard-working Americans, but expect expanded coverage for themselves and their families," they add, writing that the health care reform bill gives Americans the option of selecting a plan in a manner similar to members of Congress.

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Brian Montopoli is senior political reporter for CBSNews.com. You can read more of his posts here. Follow Hotsheet on Facebook and Twitter.

[Stop_the_crying]

Out of one side of the mouth comes NO healthcare, and out of the other give me the best, I'am not paying for It. The party of NO just flabergasess me as how they can fool so many good people of the USA.

[liberalme]

Lets see, with 435 members in the House and 100 members in the Senate and that is $10,000 per head per year--I think we ought to vote on whether WE want to provide healthcare to these people who are trying to save money for Americans!!

Is my math wrong here $5,350,000 a year?

[oldbasicgal]

by gotoran November 17, 2010 5:48 PM EST
Oldbasicgal, you are obviously too ignorant, old, basic, or partisan to understand when somebody is being called out on their hypocrisy. The GOP politicos don't mind denying a public/federal option to all the citizens, but they'll fall into a crying mass of goo if there's is being taken away. It isn't a ploy. It's a fact. The Democratic politicos don't deny that their own coverage is great, and thus would like to see everybody covered by it. Therefore, they SHOULDN'T give up their plan as long as they're fighting for everybody else to be able to get something similar. Your "argument" is patently stupid.++++++++++++++++++++++++
Obviously, gotoran, you haven't heard that Democrat Congressmen (Senators and Representatives) have a much better plan than the one that they are throwing at the masses. Republican Congressmen have this plan also; this better plan is the one that Dems are asking Reps to give up -AND TAKE the one that is being thrown to the masses, BUT Dems (Senators and Representatives) haven't volunteered themselves to "dumb down" THEIR insurance - they just want the Rep (Senators and Representatives) to. SAVVY NOW? DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT BOTH DEM AND REP SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES HAVE A BETTER PAYING AND MEDICAL CARE GIVING PLAN THAN THEY ARE OFFERING YOU AND I?

[ge556]

Oldbasicgal, you seem to think that there is a specific healthcare policy that the new law offers. That is not the case. There are minimum requirements, and the provision for additional coverage for people who don't have any, or don't like what they have. Those who like what they have can keep it, in general.

Yes, members of congress have a good plan. No one denies that. Democrats want everyone to have a good plan. Republicans do not. I have a good plan, too, and I expect to keep it. It will get better because the Democrats changed the law so that my insurer can't kick me off if I get sick.

Democrats are not asking Republicans to "take the one that is being thrown to the masses". There is no such plan. They are asking Republicans to stop being hypocrites by taking government health care, while claiming to be against it, and opposing access by others.

[oldbasicgal]

by kathy1106 November 21, 2010 6:36 PM EST

They are.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
DUH! Democrats are willing to give up their "better" government plan? Please give me the article title that states this! I haven't read it yet. BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN DONE.

...by November 21, 2010 6:39 PM EST
To the extent that it's watered down, that's the Republicans' fault. They didn't want to give anything, and now they want to take it away.

And the Democrats aren't asking us to give up a better plan, they are offering us an perfectly good alternative if we prefer it, or if we don't have anything else.

Why can't Republicans tell the truth about it?

TruthTeller

++++++++++++++++++++++
TruthTeller: I've read the plan. It is NOT the insurance that I now have now....NOT even half as good.

It isn't the Republican's fault that it is watered-down! At least you are admitting that it IS watered-down.

How do you know what is truth and what is not? None of us really will know the end results until it all takes place. And I am not a Rep. I'm an Independent.

[ge556]

The plan says you can be covered by your employer, or you can pick another plan. If you don't have an employer plan, you can pick a plan. What's wrong with that?

The Republicans did everything they could to block it, and they scared a few Dems into voting against a better plan. The Reps are against everything that would help people without insurance.

TruthTeller

[oldbasicgal]

If all Democrats can offer Americans is a watered-down health care option, then they should do the same as they are asking of the Republicans - give up THEIR better government plan and use what they are asking us to use.

[kathy1106]

They are.

[ge556]

To the extent that it's watered down, that's the Republicans' fault. They didn't want to give anything, and now they want to take it away.

And the Democrats aren't asking us to give up a better plan, they are offering us an perfectly good alternative if we prefer it, or if we don't have anything else.

Why can't Republicans tell the truth about it?

TruthTeller

[Amusedbyitall]

The Republican slogan machine has issued orders and there followed today without thinking. First of all, the Congressional health care plans were voted on by legislators to benefit legislators. No one bargained for these on behalf of the employer, the American taxpayer. Secondly, Congress is not a private employer who has to lure people to these positions. Legislators petition for these "jobs" voluntarily. That usually gives the employer a better bargaining postion without the need for additional perks. Lastly, for now, the Republicans campaigned on principle that government paid health care is bad. Where's their principles when it comes their turn at the trough? The Democrats put forth a reasonable position to a party that has stated that it's primary goal is to make Pres. Obama a one term president. Did the Republicans vote on principle and on behalf of the nation or to effect the next presidential elections? If they didn't vote on principle and the behalf of the nation, then the voters need to be more watchful of their actions and motives. To demand that Democrats forego what they are willing to share with the rest of us is just more Republican pretty slogans. Do you reward a child for not sharing his or her candy, or do you give all the candy to the child who refuses to share?

[Amusedbyitall]

cor-m - it's not the Democrats or Cbs that are morons. No one negotiated the Congressional health plans. Legislators vote in the plans to benefit legislators. Why should the Democrats reject a health plan that they voted to share with the resy of us? If the Republicans voted against the health plan for the rest of us on principle, then they should stand by their principles if they have them.

[cor-m]

What morons the Democrats AND CBS are!!! The health care that Congress members receive is, so to speak, the equivelant (much better of course), to employer-based health care offered by businesses to attract employees to their company!

What IDIOTS!

The Republicans should fire right back at them and challenge them to DROP their taxpayer-funded gold-plated health insurance and sign up for obamacare!!!

[ge556]

And how could they sign up for "Obamacare". No such thing. No such option. Who's the idiot?

[ge556]

Lots of Standard Republican Lies and Distortions here.

Congress is not "exempt" from health care reform any more than I am. I have the choice of my employer's plan or one created under the new law.

[Amazingoly]

The voters sent a strong message on November 2nd, and all in Congress should wake up and listen for once. Work together for American progress, not just for one party or another - or for the unions. We will send a stronger message in 2012 if they refuse.