U.S. Sen. David Vitter, Chairman of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Committee, today sent follow-up letters to officials from both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives regarding their failure to meet two deadlines to produce information regarding their qualification of the United States Congress as a “small business,” which allowed Members of Congress and staff to receive a taxpayer-funded employer subsidy for the Obamacare Exchange.
“This marks the third time I am asking for a straightforward request of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives to explain how they decided to qualify Congress – with nearly 16,000 employees – as a small business,” said Vitter. “If they do not produce an adequate response, I will be forced to consider other options to obtain their cooperation.”
Last month, Vitter launched a new investigation into how the Washington Obamacare Exemption was first implemented. Vitter has requested information from the District of Columbia Health Benefits Exchange Authority (DCHBEA) and officials from both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives regarding their qualification of the United States Congress as a “small business.” Click here to read more.
Vitter has been pushing legislation that would reverse and clarify the OPM decision by requiring all Members of Congress, the President, Vice President, and all political appointees in the Administration to purchase their health insurance through the Obamacare Exchange without the help of taxpayer-funded subsidies. Congressional staff would be prohibited from receiving any contribution greater than what they would receive if they were not employed by a congressional office.
Click here to read today’s letter to Senate Disbursing Office.
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