The House voted overwhelmingly tonight to delay the employer mandate and the individual mandate in Obamacare by one year. It was a rather bizarre event.
First, president Obama has already announced that he will delay the start of the employer mandate by one year. As president, Obama does not have the power to delay the start of the law, but he did so anyway. The House vote would authorize the delay that Obama wants, so you would think that Obama would be in favor of the bill. That would be wrong, however. Obama not only opposes the bill; he has threatened to veto it if it passes both houses. Even so, about 40 Democrats defied the White House and voted for the delay.
Second, on the individual mandate there were significant numbers of Democrats voting for the delay as well (although fewer than with regard to the employer mandate). This gives us the spectacle of Obama waiving the duties of businesses to provide insurance but his party then insisting that individuals have to get insurance nevertheless or face a fine. One of the main ways that people were supposed to get insurance under Obamacare was to require businesses to provide it. The Democrats are helping businesses but taking aim directly at individuals across the country. Think about that the next time a Democrat tells you that his party restrains big business.
First, president Obama has already announced that he will delay the start of the employer mandate by one year. As president, Obama does not have the power to delay the start of the law, but he did so anyway. The House vote would authorize the delay that Obama wants, so you would think that Obama would be in favor of the bill. That would be wrong, however. Obama not only opposes the bill; he has threatened to veto it if it passes both houses. Even so, about 40 Democrats defied the White House and voted for the delay.
Second, on the individual mandate there were significant numbers of Democrats voting for the delay as well (although fewer than with regard to the employer mandate). This gives us the spectacle of Obama waiving the duties of businesses to provide insurance but his party then insisting that individuals have to get insurance nevertheless or face a fine. One of the main ways that people were supposed to get insurance under Obamacare was to require businesses to provide it. The Democrats are helping businesses but taking aim directly at individuals across the country. Think about that the next time a Democrat tells you that his party restrains big business.
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