Harry Reid staffers exempt from Obamacare exchanges

So while many government staffers are being asked by their bosses to sign up through the Obama exchanges – there are those who work for Senator Harry Reid who will be exempt from using the Obama exchanges. While it is true that our representatives have the option to exempt their staff – Senator Harry Reid is the only one… only one to exercise that right. GOP House Speaker John Boehner – a staunch opponent of Obama Care has directed his staff to sign up.

If the exchanges are good enough for the American public then it should be more than adequate for Federal employees – including Senator Harry Reid and his staff.

CNN

Washington (CNN) — Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, one of Obamacare’s architects and staunchest supporters, is also the only top congressional leader to exempt some of his staff from having to buy insurance through the law’s new exchanges.

Reid is the exception among the other top congressional leaders. GOP House Speaker John Boehner, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell have all directed their staffs to join the exchange, their aides said.

Full story and video: CNN

Some Democrats open to changing Obamacare deadlines

In corporate America if a website of this caliber were released it would soon be taken down or revert back to the previous speficications. Considering the huge amount spent creating this site one would hope that it worked correctly. Then again we are talking about a government program where there is no competition – so crap can be turned out on the public – and what is broken can be fixed over time – at a cost.

Delaying Obamacare for individuals at this point so the government can correct the problems it is facing makes commen sense. Something the Feds typically lack.

Yahoo! News

Affordable Care Act supporters are hoping the embarrassing rollout problems with the law’s implementation can be resolved quickly, but if they can’t, some Democrats are opening the door to delaying or extending some of the mandates in the 2010 law.

“If the problems are intense as they are this morning, then maybe we would have to consider a short delay in terms of the individual mandate,” New Jersey Democratic Rep. Bill Pascrell, a member of the Health subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee, said on Wednesday. “I say, ‘maybe.’ I have a good feeling that we’re going to overcome these things.”

Full story: Yahoo! News

Obamacare’s Cadillac Tax Poses Problem for Unions and City Finances

For support of OBAMA Care many Unions gave their blessing with the promise of being exempt from participation. It appears though the administration is not exactly holding their part of the bargain. Union plans are under threat of a 40% tax when the exceed $10200.00 – which many do. This is going to be a staggering expense that many cities are not equipped to handle given the fiscal crisis that we are faced with around the country.
Wall St. Cheat Sheet

“When you and the President sought our support for the Affordable Care Act (NYSE:ACA), you pledged that if we liked the health plans we have now, we could keep them. Sadly, that promise is under threat,” read the July 2013 letter penned by James P. Hoffa of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Joseph Hansen of United Food and Commercial Workers, and D. Taylor of UNITE-HERE — then sent to Democratic Senators Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi.

In the weeks since that letter was written, many cities and towns across the United States have taken a hard look at the costs taxed on the most expensive health insurance plans that Obamacare will add beginning in 2018 — and the expected price tag has prompted governments to ask municipal unions to accept cheaper health benefits.

Full story: Cheat Sheet