Dr. Boozman's Check-up
Let's Give Obamacare Waivers to Everyone
Sep 12 2013
Today, President Obama was told by the head of the AFL-CIO that unless he offers a special Obamacare deal for union members, he faces a revolt from one of his staunchest allies.
While this should not be allowed to move forward, and we are working to prevent it from happening, the demand raises a bigger concern than just whether union members should get special treatment.
Americans are seeing just how bad Obamacare is by the amount of delays and waivers being issued to various constituencies. The President’s allies literally are scrambling to get special exemptions.
Which leaves the rest of America asking, “Where’s my exemption?” They rightfully want to know why they have to follow a law that the President’s allies aren’t following.
Here’s a novel solution to this problem. Let’s exempt EVERYONE from the law.
That’s exactly what a group of us in the U.S. Senate have proposed. My colleague Senator Dan Coats (R-IN) and I have introduced a bill to delay the individual and employer mandates included in Obamacare until 2015.
Not only is this a matter of fairness, but it will save money. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) found that delaying the individual mandate would reduce the federal deficit by $35 billion over the next decade.
The steady flow of implementation problems is proof-positive that Obamacare is bad policy, and exemptions from bad policy shouldn’t be given only to a chosen few, but to all. That’s why Congress needs to pass our bill. Let’s give everyone the benefits that the President is seeking for his allies.