Walorski Supports Bill Eliminating Health Care Subsidies for Congress

In an effort to maintain a level of fairness between congress, their staff and the American people, Congresswoman Jackie Walorski is cosponsoring a bill that would prevent administration, Congress members and congressional staff from receiving a special subsidy minimizing personal insurance cost increases in the Obamacare health insurance exchange. The bill, dubbed the “James Madison Congressional Accountability Act,” was authored by congressman Ron DeSantis and crafted in response to the Office of Personnel Management’s ruling that allows members of Congress and their staff to receive taxpayer-funded partial subsidies for health insurance plans offered in the exchange.

Walorski stated the administration “should not be allowed to pick winners and losers when it comes to enforcing Obamacare.” She said if the White House feels it is appropriate to allow exemptions to the legislation, then those exemptions should be applied to the rest of the American people, and said Obamacare should be defunded and repealed to “prevent further damage to hardworking families and the economy.”

Open enrollment for the state and federal Obamacare insurance exchanges begins on Oct. 1, and for a six-month period, individuals and small business owners will be permitted to shop for insurance plans in the exchanges, ahead of the Jan. 1, 2014 requirement that all U.S. residents obtain health care coverage.

According to Walorski’s press release, key portions of the law have been delayed due to lack of preparation, and projected costs are skyrocketing. In Indiana, Walorski stated, the average cost of health plans is expected to increase by 72 percent. The Obama administration, she said, has selectively exempted multiple groups from fully participating in Obamacare, including labor unions, associations, and various self-insured employers, to protect them from the harmful impacts of the law. She further stated that the administration has already signed seven bills passed by the House of Representatives to dismantle portions of Obamacare, including legislation to repeal burdensome mandates encumbering small businesses and protect taxpayer dollars.