Congress threatening to shutdown unless ACA is defunded/repealed immediately.

[archibaldcrane]

Anyone have any links on the "big business" and congressional exemptions from ACA? Not entirely lost on the latter reference, but I'm not having any luck finding source material on the former

Businesses with 50+ employees are not required to provide a health insurance plan to their FT employees until Jan. 1st 2015 - it's a delay on the "employer mandate" - not really an "exemption".

Congressional members and their staffers had a health plan that was partially paid for (70% I think) by their employer (the government). Chuck Grassley, in a political stunt, inserted an amendment in 2010 that said Congress had to use the Obamacare exchanges for their health insurance. Democrats called his bluff and said "SURE!" However, the amendment didn't specify whether the government would continue to contribute to 70% of their health insurance costs, like they did on the previous plan, so Brobama basically said "yeah we'll keep doing that". So they have to use the Obamacare exchanges instead of their old employer plan, however unlike most people using the exchanges, their employer is contributing to the cost of the premiums.

Here's a breakdown of the employer mandate delay: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/0...ned-93677.html

Here's a good breakdown of the congress-on-exchanges issue: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...acare/2883635/

[Synbios]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health...ystem_in_Japan


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan#...and_technology

Thanks.

[Khajit]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health...ystem_in_Japan


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan#...and_technology

Isn't Japan the place where you get a suppository for having a cold? And their only response to any health problem is you're fat? And a nightmare in general if the blogs ive read where the writers are horrified/baffled at things like an emergency room having a closing time are accurate?

[Ragnus]

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/lo...226209781.html

I'm not sure if this belongs in Ms. Piggy's or here because it's relevant.

Conflict over the responsibility for the government shutdown got personal at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. Wednesday when a member of Congress confronted a U.S. Park Service Ranger over access to the closed park land.

The congressman was Randy Neugebauer, a Republican representing Texas. He confronted the ranger in the middle of a crowd of tourists as she was keeping most of the public out of the closed World War II memorial.

The Park Service has been allowing World War II vets who have traveled from all over the country to enter the memorial, even though it's closed during the government shutdown; the rangers say they are exercising their First Amendment rights as they let the veterans in.

But they are keeping the rest of the public out of the facility, which is officially closed. And that did not sit well with the congressman, reported News4's Mark Segraves, who witnessed the confrontation.

"How do you look at them and... deny them access?" said Neugebauer. He, with most House Republicans, had voted early Sunday morning to pass a funding measure that would delay the Affordable Care Act, a vote that set up a showdown with the Senate and President Barack Obama. With the parties unable to agree on how to fund the federal government, non-essential government functions shut down Tuesday.

"It's difficult," responded the Park Service employee.

"Well, it should be difficult," replied the congressman, who was carrying a small American flag in his breast pocket.

"It is difficult," responded the Park Service employee. "I'm sorry, sir."

"The Park Service should be ashamed of themselves," the congressman said.

"I'm not ashamed," replied the ranger.

At that point, a crowd of onlookers got involved. "Ask those questions of the people who aren't passing the budget," shouted a voice from the crowd. "That's who you need to ask these questions to."

"This woman is doing her job, just like me," shouted another. "I'm a 30-year federal veteran -- I'm out of work."

The man, wearing a bicycle helmet, at this point was face to face with the congressman.

"Well, the reason you are is because Mr. Reid decided to shut down the government," responded Neugebauer, referring to the top Senate Democrat.

"No, it's because the government won't do its job and pass a budget," the bicyclist responded.

"The House did its job; it passed appropriations. The Senate hasn't," said another voice from the crowd.

Neugebauer walked away at that point.

The veterans were in D.C. thanks to the Honor Flight Network, which provides flights to D.C. for veterans so they can visit the memorials. Thousands of vets are still on their way to D.C. this weekend as part of the program.

[Kyreth]

When I saw this, my first thought was, "Okay, so the new Republican strategy is to fund everything except the parts of government they don't like and hope people believe it's negotiation."

More like "try and put through funding for parts that they can then use as hot-buttons later when the inevitable "Nope, fund the whole fucking thing you idiots" response comes from the Senate."

This is like playing political Russian Roulette while adding another bullet in each go-round. The problem with this is the Republicans have to spin and pull the trigger three times for every one the Democrats do.

[Salodin]

I haven't watched the news lately, but is this being spun in any way other then republicans throwing a tantrum because they aren't getting what they want?

[notorious bum]

While most people(and news headlines) are basically nonchalant or even amused about the shutdown, high-fiving at the dysfunctional republican party, numerous facets of peoples lives are being fucked-up and then there's still more maniacal shit like this going on:

[tyven]

I haven't watched the news lately, but is this being spun in any way other then republicans throwing a tantrum because they aren't getting what they want?

at first people were blaming all of congress and some still want to blame Barry. the false equivalence is finally coming to an end tho and most, republicans included, are finally just blasting the republicans.

[Kyreth]

I haven't watched the news lately, but is this being spun in any way other then republicans throwing a tantrum because they aren't getting what they want?

Here and there, it's being spun as Democrats getting in the way of the "people" who need to have Obamacare destroyed before it consumes the earth. Or something.

[Talint]

I haven't watched the news lately, but is this being spun in any way other then republicans throwing a tantrum because they aren't getting what they want?

Fox News and conservative media are calling it a "slim down", and are blaming the democrats for not negotiating. Unsurprisingly, the only ones who believe that are conservatives/republicans since they believe what they want anyway.

[test123]

[Ksandra]

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/lo...226209781.html

I'm not sure if this belongs in Ms. Piggy's or here because it's relevant.

I am trying to wrap my brain around this. On what planet in any way shape or form can you twist this and put the blame on park services? They are following orders...wth?

[tyven]

capitol on lock down. multiple reports of shots fired.

[Kyreth]

capitol on lock down. multiple reports of shots fired.

And so we've gone from government shutdown to attempted government shotdown.

[Silenka]

Isn't Japan the place where you get a suppository for having a cold? And their only response to any health problem is you're fat? And a nightmare in general if the blogs ive read where the writers are horrified/baffled at things like an emergency room having a closing time are accurate?

Yeah but Japan is also the place where people are healthier overall, and there's less crime and stupidity happening on the whole to send someone to the emergency room. It is pretty hard to get any kind of strong drugs there for ailments though, from what I've heard.

And of course they have to have a decent healthcare system what with over 1/3rd of the population being senior citizens...

[Tyrath]

I am trying to wrap my brain around this. On what planet in any way shape or form can you twist this and put the blame on park services? They are following orders...wth?

These people (meaning the rep) must live on their own planet denial. I can't even begin to understand his thought process.

[Ksandra]

That congressman is getting a lot of backlash on his fb page:

https://www.facebook.com/rep.randy.n...ed_target_id=0

[Callisto]

http://i40.tinypic.com/2rc53fa.jpg

[Outlaw]

I am trying to wrap my brain around this. On what planet in any way shape or form can you twist this and put the blame on park services? They are following orders...wth?

These people (meaning the rep) must live on their own planet denial. I can't even begin to understand his thought process.

Who knows? He's old. Maybe he forgot who caused the government shutdown in the first place?

[Quicklet]

I am trying to wrap my brain around this. On what planet in any way shape or form can you twist this and put the blame on park services? They are following orders...wth?

They're not only doing their job. They're also avoiding hypothetical punishment for continuing to work during shutdown.

http://www.gao.gov/legal/lawresource...ackground.html

I have no idea who would enforce this or how.

Also, I love all the conservative media outlets going "The sky isn't falling because of this shutdown!" I'm sure all the people being furloughed are just having a dandy time not working.

http://www.wtnh.com/news/politics/si...2000-furloughs

Of course, the people who are responsible for this don't give a shit since it doesn't affect their re-election. Absolutely disgusting. We have hit a new low in government and there's no way it's going to get any better until the debt ceiling gets abolished altogether.