Letter to Harry Reid, Senate Majority Leader Reid - Show Your Obamacare Exemptions

Letter

December 10, 2013

The Honorable Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)
Office of the Senate Majority Leader
S-221 the Capitol
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Majority Leader Reid,

It has been reported that you are the only Member of top Congressional leadership--House and Senate, Democrat and Republican-- who has exempted some of your staff from having to procure their health insurance through the Obamacare Exchange as clearly required by the Obamacare statute.

Millions of Americans are losing the health care plans and doctors they wanted to keep and are facing dramatic premium increases, all as Washington enjoys a special exemption. Given this, I ask you to publicly and in writing answer the four important questions below regarding your office's exemption. I will also be on the Senate floor to discuss this at approximately 4:15 pm today and invite you to join me there.

First, how did you designate each member of your staff, including your leadership staff, regarding their status as "official" (going to the Exchange) or "not official" (exempted from Exchange)? Did you delegate that designation to the Senate Disbursing Office, which would have the effect of exempting all of your leadership staff from going to the Exchange?

Second, if any of your staff is designated as "not official" (exempted from Exchange), are any of those staff members receiving official taxpayer-funded salaries, benefits, office space, office equipment, or any other taxpayer support?

Third, if any of your staff is designated as "not official" (exempted from Exchange), did any of these staff members assist you in drafting or passing Obamacare into law? If so, which staff members exactly?

Fourth, how are the above designations of yours consistent with the clear, unequivocal statement you made on September 12: "Let's stop these really juvenile political games -- the one dealing with health care for senators and House members and our staff. We are going to be part of exchanges, that's what the law says and we'll be part of that."

I look forward to your clear, written responses to these important questions. I also look forward to having fair, up-or-down votes on the Senate floor on my "Show Your Exemptions" and "No Washington Exemptions" proposals in the new year.

Sincerely,

David Vitter
U.S. Senator

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