House Republicans filed a long-threatened lawsuit Friday against the Obama administration over unilateral actions on the health care law that they say are abuses of the president’s executive authority.
The lawsuit — filed against the secretaries of the Health and Human Services and Treasury Departments — focuses on two crucial aspects of the way the administration has put the Affordable Care Act into effect.
The suit accuses the Obama administration of unlawfully postponing a requirement that larger employers offer health coverage to their full-time employees or pay penalties. (Larger companies are defined as those with 50 or more employees.)
In July 2013, the administration deferred that requirement until 2015. Seven months later, the administration announced a further delay, until 2016, for employers with 50 to 99 employees.
The suit also challenges what it says is President Obama’s unlawful giveaway of roughly $175 billion to insurance companies under the law. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the administration will pay that amount to the companies over the next 10 years, though the funds have not been appropriated by Congress. The lawsuit argues that it is an unlawful transfer of funds.
I can't believe they finally did it.What a waste of time, money, and resources.
So they are going to sue the President over this, but allowed George W. Bush to lie to the American people and members of Congress and start an illegal war without receiving so much as an order of cease and desist?
Hypocritical bastards!
Well I guess we know what this new Congress will be focused on for the next two years.
All I can say is, "good luck with that."
ReplyDeleteWell for me the most surprising thing is that the Republicans are essentially suing about the transfer of billions of dollars from the People to their cronies in Big Business, Insurance Division. One would think that this part of the ACA is something about which the Republicans would approve; indeed, it is hard to believe their masters would even condone this.
ReplyDeleteAnd then, similarly, the delay in favor of small business would seem to be something that on its face the Republicans would get behind, since they've always allegedly been concerned about how the ACA harms small businesses.
The ACA has always been a huge windfall for the insurance industry, with mandated customers and government subsidies. We should all have single-payer, free health care, not "health insurance."
Hypocritical on many levels. It's going to be a nasty two years.
Thanks for the thoughtful post Nikogriego 9:17. I agree with every word you wrote. The Republicans demonstrate hypocrisy at it's finest. I can't believe that the insurance industry will let the Repubs get too serious about this latest effort to obstruct the Obama administration, especially if it just causes more clamor for a single payer system.
DeleteOh fun! We get to watch the Republicans spend our money trying to argue that gov. subsidies to big business is bad. Yeah, setting a precedent on that one big business will love!
ReplyDeleteOr are they saying that they really want single payer? Hmmm?
The irony is just too much. Perhaps we'll get the added benefit of Republicans bringing impeachment proceedings against the President for his executive action immigration reforms.
And while they are kicking, screaming, back biting, and wasting tax payer money, they will be pissing the American people off. And they won't have any extra time, or concerted will, to push through other horrible pieces of legislation like the KXL pipeline, gutting the EPA, and getting us into further wars.
Spot on hedgewytch 9:36! Unfortunately for the American people, the Republicans also won't have any extra time, or concerted will, to push through other GOOD pieces of legislation.
DeleteDuring the next two years, the GOP will have nothing positive to show that they accomplished. Wonder what lame excuses they will offer up to blame President Obama for their lack of action benefiting average Americans.
Though in some ways I dread the constant animosity that will be directed against our wonderful President and some of the Democrats during the next two years, I will love watching the GOP (those hypocritical crazies) destroy itself from within.
I'll be one of the 10 million people very upset if the Republicans overturn the ACA. I was finally able to buy good insurance ( I do not qualify for substidies). I was one of the people whom insurance companies would not insure due to a pre- existing condition. I'm a very healthy 58 year old, run 4 miles daily, don't smoke, on no medication, but still I was repeatedly denied insurance coverage. I bet there will be some mighty pissed off people just like me that Republicans will have to answer to!
ReplyDeleteAs a Canadian looking at your politics, if I'm a Dem, I would encourage more of this from the GOP....they clearly don't learn their lesson. When people hold Congress in single digit estimation and are looking for leadership...this ain't what they have in mind, imo.
ReplyDeleteGOP will not be taking the White House for a looooooooong time.
In the interim, Dem supporters should concentrate on getting real progressives on tickets...not those who run away from sucesses because it's politically damaging to be associated with the POTUS......Christ, we'd elect Obama in a minute over the joker we have. My only disappointments with Obama was not going after Wall Street hard enough....and not going after single payer for his health care option.
Good luck down there.
Unfortunately, as we've just seen in the election earlier this month, many Americans don't understand that the problem in Congress is the GOP, not the Democrats. It's astounding to me that so many Americans are so uninformed about what is happening in our own country. Thanks for your good wishes; the US needs all the help it can get.
DeletePS We used to watch TVOntario all the time when we lived near Detroit. This morning my husband noticed that "Heartbeat," which we used to watch on Friday evenings, lasted 18 seasons. Wow! We still have a video with two episodes from a wonderful nightly program: one part about a snow highway in northern Ontario and another about bears wandering into suburban neighborhoods. We always loved Canada and still do. The US' sane neighbor and friend.
Beaglemom
The Republicans will not win on this and are doing nothing more than spending taxpayer's money! These guys and gals are going down in 2016! Fucking assholes every one of them!
ReplyDeleteAs I've said before - they all need to be taken to the woodshed - especially Boehner (the alcoholic) and McConnell. They are nothing more than racists!
President Obama outsmarts them every step of the way and it's driving them bat shitty nuts!
10 million votes going to the Democrats and Independents in 2016! The Republicans have lost it because President Obama is loved and respected throughout the country and world and they are NOT!
ReplyDeleteThe Republicans were the ones clamoring to have the deadline for "large" employers extended and I bet the money to the insurers was something the GOP insisted on when the law was still before Congress.
ReplyDeleteBeaglemom
I've very disappointed that Boehner chose this course rather than go balls out for impeachment. Which would guarantee the implosion of the Republican party for a very, very long time. However, the lawsuit will at least bring a few laughs, especially since Obama can use in his defense the fact that he (1) acted via executive order, which is legal, and (2) that he only acted to accomplish things the Republicans wanted in the first place. Which is the part that will be funny.
ReplyDeleteWhat won't be funny is the immense waste of taxpayer money. These right-wing asswipes love to brag about how this is the stuff The American People Want Them To Do, while ignoring that twice those same American People elected President Obama.
We have a lot to thank Obama for. And I think we can add to that very long list that he managed at last to destroy right-wing extremism.
Well Said. I was waiting for the impeachment option as well, but Orange Man jumped the shark and went directly to plan B for the fifty somthingth time. What's the definition of insanity again?
DeleteThese guys are certifiable! And Jonathan Turley belongs in the asylum with them.
ReplyDeletePerhaps sabotage on his part?
DeleteImpeachment certain to be next item up.
ReplyDeleteI freaking hate them, every last one.
DeleteIronically the advancement of the time lines for the employers participation was itself, pushed for by the Rethugs. Further, the 175 billion was set up provisionally, should the Insurance companies suffer any huge losses servicing their coverages, but not necessarily to be doled out, as long as they made money. This stuff falls into the same category as the 500 billion the Rethugs keep saying the Dems took out of Medicare, when in fact it represented money saved, not having to go any longer to the Insurance Companies to service their assorted scams, according to their future estimates.
ReplyDeleteWell, it took them long enough to find a law firm willing to argue the case. Last I heard, at least 2 of them had turned down Boehner because they knew they couldn't win.
ReplyDeleteWhy do I have a sneaking suspicion whatever lawyers are taking the case are connected to ALEC?
Your tax dollars "at work".
ReplyDeleteWhen they lose do we get a refund? What are they planning on cutting from the budget to pay for this?
DeleteMore cuts to education, social security and medicare?
If they are so gun ho on suing the president,these idiots should be paying for it from their salaries.
I love your graphic. My late great father, who I loved more than life itself, did not suffer fools gladly.
ReplyDeleteThe R's in leadership are using this lawsuit in an attempt to keep the calls for impeachment at bay. Unlike 2014, when the D's could not be found at the polls, our fair weather D friends will all be showing up for the Presidential election in 2016. The R;s know things won't go good for them in 2016 if they impeach the President or shut down the government.
I know it's against protocol, but just once, can they hand the gavel over to Nancy Pelosi and play whack a mole for a good hour? I thought they'd do the nuclear "Impeachment" option, but they started with a lawsuit so people can't say impeachment was on the agenda all along. And does he think, for one moment, President Obama doesn't have a flow chart ready for any action they think they have up their sleeves? They're crazy, I know, but no one can be this stupid.
ReplyDeleteFeckers. Now file a lawsuit for real Native Americans for Jackson crap too!
ReplyDelete