A local lawmaker is leading the call for President Obama to permanently delay implementation of the Affordable Care Act. U.S. Reps. Jackie Walorski (R-IN) and Rodney Davis (R-IL) led a letter signed by several House Republicans. It was sent following passage by the House of two bills to delay the employer and individual mandates in Obamacare for a year. The administration previously announced a year delay on implementation of the employer mandate. Continue reading
Indiana Senator Joe Donnelly is the co-sponsor of a bipartisan measure to redefine full-time workers for purposes of the federal Affordable Care Act. Starting Jan. 1, the controversial health care law mandates employers with more than 50 employees offer insurance to anyone who averages 30 hours per week in order to avoid hefty fines. Donnelly and Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine are proposing the Affordable Care Act redefine a full-time employee as one who works 40 hours per week. Donnelly says this is the standard definition in all other aspects of the federal government. He adds several of his constituents have had their hours slashed from 35 to 29 hours per week and are facing financial challenges as a result of the 30 hour definition. The two senators have also sent a letter to President Obama asking for flexibility and time for small businesses to adjust to the changes without penalties.
The letter, led by Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Orrin Hatch of Utah and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, raised concerns about conflicting responses from the IRS and emphasized the need for the administration to work with Congress on investigating the agency.
President Obama signed a proclamation ordering flags nationwide to be flown at half-staff today. The flags should remain at half-staff until sunrise tomorrow.
Pence has also asked businesses and residents to lower their flags to half-staff, in addition to state facilities, to honor the brave men and women in law enforcement across the state and the United States.
Cracks are beginning to form in President Obama’s formerly solid support among Republicans for the war in Afghanistan. Senator Richard Lugar, the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said last week that Congress is coming to a critical juncture.
Republicans, who in the past have been strong on defense, now find themselves looking at the huge expenditure of keeping forces fighting in Afghanistan. Only 25% of Tea Party supporters said the U.S. should maintain current troop levels, and another 27% said the U.S. should pull out completely.
Congressman Joe Donnelly gives his assessment of where we are in Afghanistan.
