It’s a new year and the health care antics are just beginning.
Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is making a childish request of his Republican colleagues: Give up your health insurance!
This comes on the heels of a similar request made by Democrats in the House.
What is Schumer’s rationale for such a request?
"It was a central value to us when we passed health care, and a central value to the American people, that members of Congress should get the same health care as everyone else," Schumer told POLITICO this morning. "It seems unfair that house Republicans want to deprive middle-class Americans of the same health care as members of Congress but to keep it for themselves."
Senator Schumer is either grossly misinformed or woefully dishonest.
No serious person believes that the health care law provides middle-class Americans with the “same health care as members of Congress.”
Somebody should inform Mr. Schumer that the law expands Medicaid coverage to 16 million Americans. This is why you have to read the legislation, Senator.
Congressman Bill Cassidy (R-LA), a physician, recently wrote about the shortcomings of such coverage. Does this sound like health coverage members of Congress receive?
As for Senator Schumer’s patently ridiculous request of Republican lawmakers, it is employer-sponsored health insurance.
Certainly Mr. Schumer does not oppose the notion of employer-sponsored health coverage? Or does he?
More from Grace-Marie Turner on the issue of Congressmen and their health insurance plans here.