Democrats target lawmakers opposed to health care reform

WASHINGTON - Some Democrats on Capitol Hill dare Republican Reps. Steve King and Tom Latham of Iowa, as well as others who fulminate against the new health care law, to “walk the walk” by leaving the federally subsidized health plan they enjoy as lawmakers.

“It is time for Republicans to put their proverbial money where their mouth is,” Rep. Joseph Crowley, D-N.Y., said in a statement.

Crowley was one of almost 60 House Democrats who recently signed a letter issuing the challenge. Iowa Democratic Reps. Bruce Braley, Dave Loebsack and Leonard Boswell did not put their names on it.

In the letter, the Democrats referred to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan, which allows lawmakers and other federal employees to choose from competing health care options offered by private insurance. The government helps with the cost. Members of Congress have long given the program high marks.

Meanwhile, King, Latham and other conservative lawmakers, such as Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., have been calling for repeal of “Obamacare,” the derisive nickname they assign to the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act of 2010. King is one of several GOP members to introduce repeal legislation.

“If Republicans are willing to repeal coverage for millions of Americans, they have no right to accept employer-subsidized FEHBP health insurance or complain about the quality of coverage they are trying to prevent others from having,”said Rep. Donna Edwards, D-Md.

The plan for Congress and federal employees started in 1959.

The Affordable Care Act calls for establishing health insurance “exchanges” around the country in which insurance companies offer competing plans beginning in 2014. Those considered financially capable will be required to buy some type of coverage. Those who can't afford it will get government subsidies. The change is meant to extend coverage to at least 30 million of the 51 million Americans who now lack it.

Although King has advocated repeal, he failed to respond to repeated requests for comment about the Democrats' “put up or shut up” option.

A spokesman for Latham called the Democrats' move “cheap political posturing” but did not address whether the congressman would withdraw from the congressional health plan.

“Rep. Latham believes we need to stay focused on the priorities of the American people, who are demanding lower premiums and more affordable coverage. The new health care law takes us in the wrong direction,” Latham spokesman Fred Love said.

---- Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, who has called for repeal of some provisions of the Affordable Care Act but not the whole bill, also sidestepped the question.

But Grassley spokeswoman Jill Kozeny said: “Senator Grassley was the one lawmaker who made sure that members of Congress don't get special treatment, different from every other American who will be put in the exchanges established by the new health care law.”

Kozeny added that the senator vigorously opposed Democratic moves last year to exempt congressional leadership and some staff from the Affordable Care Act.

Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, a defender of the health care bill, said in a statement that Republicans need “to put themselves in the shoes of children and families who can't see a doctor because they can't afford it.”

Harkin added: “We have heard many Republicans talk about repealing the new health reform law. This is the law that cracks down on the worst abuses of insurance companies, ensures access to affordable, quality care and also provides the biggest deficit reduction in decades. It would be a grave mistake to allow Republicans to take us back to a situation where insurance companies can abuse and discriminate against ordinary Americans, including children with pre-existing conditions.”

But Robert Moffit, health care expert at the conservative Heritage Foundation, said the challenge of Crowley and other Democrats is “superficially clever,” but that parallels between the Affordable Care Act and the plan for federal employees “are stretched thin.” The FEHBP, he said, resembles the employer-provided options of many American workers.

Moffit also said Democrats who challenge Republicans to give up the federal plan should say whether they would give them additional salary to buy other insurance.

“This is fungible,” Moffit said, adding that health insurance is generally thought of as compensation.

By Paul Barton, Capitol News Connections