PWashington, DC (August 9, 2013) – Today, while meeting with constituents in southern New Mexico, U.S. Congressman Steve Pearce criticized Washington leadership for crafting a special exemption to Obamacare for members of Congress and Capitol Hill staffers.
 
“I want no part of any deal that exempts Washington from the laws Americans are forced to follow,” said Pearce.  “The President and the very lawmakers who passed this train wreck of a law are now realizing that they want no part of it, so they’re letting themselves off the hook while the rest of America suffers.  The New Mexicans I’ve talked to this week are disgusted, and they should be.  I am tired of the games and backroom deals: If Congress and the President pass a law, that law should apply to everyone.  That includes Congressmen, Presidents, White House staff, career bureaucrats, and everyone on Capitol Hill.  The privileges, free passes, and broken promises must end.”
 
On Wednesday, the Office of Personnel Management, working closely with the President, announced a ‘fix’ to ensure Washington lawmakers and staff members continue receiving government-backed health coverage.  Under the ruling, Washington staffers and representatives will receive hefty subsidies from taxpayers to offset the cost of their coverage on the new exchanges—subsidies that taxpayers themselves won’t have access to.  A key provision in the original Affordable Care Act would have prevented this, by specifically mandating that Congress be subject to the law like everyone else.  But the Wednesday ruling negates that provision, giving Congress a free pass while millions of Americans face higher premiums and financial hardship as a result of the law.
 
Congressman Pearce has voted repeatedly to repeal Obamacare, and has vocally opposed any move that would exempt Congress from the rules Americans have to follow.  As Congressman Pearce has met with constituents in New Mexico this week, many discussions have focused on the hypocrisy of Washington lawmakers exempting themselves from the law they passed for Americans.