Reid, Democrats Scared to Vote on Obamacare Exemption Amendment

Press Release

U.S. Senator Vitter (R-La.) made the following statement on the U.S. Senate floor after the Senate Democrats blocked Vitter's amendment to eliminate the Obamacare exemption for Congress. Earlier in the week, U.S. Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) indicated they would vote on the Vitter amendment.

"After freaking out last Thursday with threats and bribery, this week Harry Reid said he's fine with an up-or-down vote on my No Washington Exemption from Obamacare Amendment. I guess that was just a weak attempt at disguising his fear about losing his special exemption," Vitter said.

Vitter's amendment would reverse and clarify the decision by the Office of Personnel and Management (OPM) on Obamacare. The legislation will require that all Members of Congress, the President, Vice President, and all political appointees in the Administration must purchase their health insurance on the Obamacare Exchange without the help of taxpayer-funded subsidies. Congressional staff would be prohibited from receiving any contribution greater than what they would receive if they were not employed by a congressional office. Cosponsors include Senators Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Dean Heller (R-Nev.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

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