Rep. Lynn Jenkins Weekly Update: Constitutional Amendment; House Bill Authorizes Topeka Levee Project; ObamaCare Failures Continue

Press Release

Open Office Hours: My next open office hours is in Topeka on Monday, November 4, at 9:30 a.m. To schedule a one-on-one meeting with me during this time, please call my Washington office at (202) 225-6601.

Constitutional Amendment to Eliminate Special Treatment

This week, I introduced a constitutional amendment, along with U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), to ensure all government officials are held to the same standard as the American people.

This amendment should not be necessary, but we continue to see instances where the administration, members of Congress, or other groups have carved out special treatment under the law. ObamaCare is one of the most recent examples where we have seen government officials receive special treatment, and it is unacceptable. Although members of Congress and their staff will be required to go through the ObamaCare insurance exchanges, President Obama and his Cabinet are not.

This amendment is about fairness and government accountability. It states Congress shall make no law applicable to a citizen of the United States that is not equally applicable to members of Congress, judges of the Supreme Court of the United States, or the executive branch, including the President and the Vice President. Those who make laws, should have to live by those laws.

Read the amendment here.

Topeka Project Authorized by Water Resources Reform & Development Act

On Wednesday, the House passed the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) of 2013 by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 417-3. WRDDA is critically important to supporting our nation's economy by strengthening our U.S. transportation infrastructure and promoting our nation's competitiveness and economic growth.

This bill specifically includes authorization for the Topeka Flood Risk Management project, a need identified as a top priority by a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chief's Report finalized in 2009. This is a long overdue and much-needed commitment to helping the city of Topeka correct deficiencies with its Kansas River levee system.

Since the project is included in the Senate-passed bill as well, this project is in a good position for final approval. Upon approval, actual funds for the Topeka Flood Risk Management project will have to be appropriated in the annual Energy & Water Appropriations bill. Watch the video below to see how WRDDA affects you and your family.

Failure of ObamaCare Exchanges Indicate Broader Problems With the Law

It has been nearly a month since the ObamaCare insurance exchanges launched on October 1. Not only can hardworking Americans not even log onto the website, if they do, they are given wrong information on Medicaid eligibility, confusing error messages, broken calculators, and more. The rollout has clearly been a complete failure.

Those unable to get coverage because of this disaster are up against a clock, and could be forced to pay a fine for not being able to obtain insurance through no fault of their own. What is worse is that many people who liked the insurance coverage they already had, will not be able to keep their current plan, and are being forced to buy a new insurance plan that is more expensive.

A majority of Americans say the website problems indicate a broader problem with the law's implementation and I could not agree more. Secretary Sebelius will have to make a real accounting of these failures when she testifies before Congress next week, and I hope she will explain why people who cannot build a working website, deserve the power to reorganize one-sixth of the U.S. economy.

Tell me about your experience signing up for the ObamaCare insurance exchange on my website.

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