Collected on Facebook, April 16, 2012:
It even offers a page and a line — page 114, line 22. But that page has nothing to do with what the caption on the truck says. Congress, the President and their families, are not exempt from the Affordable Care Act. The Grassley Amendment expressly puts them in the plan, though they would have been left with their employer-provided plans without that special inclusion clause.
Here’s the text from H.R. 3200, the Affordable Care Act, on page 114. Where’s the language this guy complains about?
17 ‘‘(b) LIMITATIONS ON USE OF DATA.—Nothing in this
18 section shall be construed to permit the use of information
19 collected under this section in a manner that would ad
20 versely affect any individual.
21 ‘‘(c) PROTECTION OF DATA.—The Secretary shall en
22 sure (through the promulgation of regulations or otherwise)
23 that all data collected pursuant to subsection (a) are—
24 ‘‘(1) used and disclosed in a manner that meets
25 the HIPAA* privacy and security law (as defined in[continuing to page 115]
1 section 3009(a)(2) of the Public Health Service Act),
2 including any privacy or security standard adopted
3 under section 3004 of such Act; and
4 ‘‘(2) protected from all inappropriate internal
5 use by any entity that collects, stores, or receives the
6 data, including use of such data in determinations of
7 eligibility (or continued eligibility) in health plans,
8 and from other inappropriate uses, as defined by the
9 Secretary.
That GPO version of the bill is searchable in .pdf form — searching for “Congress” I find no reference to any part that exempts Congress. Searching for “exemption,” I find no mention of any exemption from any provision that applies to Congress or the President.
So, what are the anti-ObamaCare fanatics really concerned about? Is there language in the bill that exempts either Congress or the President, from any provision?
Some guy is so obsessed with hatred for President Obama and health care reform that he paints the offending part on his truck. But he gets the law wrong.
Nothing in the Affordable Care Act exempts Congress, nor the President, from its terms.
Dear Reader, what am I missing? Can you explain?
I wonder if the guy is into tattoos.
_____________
* HIPAA is The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA; Pub.L. 104-191, 110 Stat. 1936, enacted August 21, 1996)
_____________
PPS: Here’s the text of H. R. 3590, the number of the bill that finally passed. I can’t find any more light there, either.
_____________
Update: In comments, blueollie refers us to a Forbes blog article that both reveals the truth of the matter — Congress and the President get no special treatment — and the origins of the hoax.
So, here’s the real deal –As things currently stand, Members of Congress and their staff, until 2014, will continue to participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). This program, considered among the best in the nation, allows federal employees- including Members of Congress and their staff- to choose from a wide range of health plans and select the one that best suits their needs. Note that the current plan is neither ‘government’ insurance, ‘free’ insurance nor any other sort of sweet deal that the public has been led to believe is the case. The federal employee’s program involves private insurance policies with premiums, deductibles, co-pays, etc.
Here’s the surprise – come 2014, when the lion’s share of the ACA provisions come on line, Members of Congress and their staff will be required to buy their health insurance on an exchange. In fact, their choices will be even more limited than our own. While it is expected that some 24 million people will elect to purchase their health care policy on a state run exchange, we are not required by law to do so. Members of Congress and their staff, however, must buy their insurance in this way.
There you have it. That guy, whoever he is, had his truck painted erroneously. We hope he doesn’t have a close relationship with the tattoo parlor.
_____________
So many hoaxes relating to Barack Obama; do you think there’s a shop somewhere with a dozen people sitting around dreaming up these hoaxes? What else explains the sheer number of Obama-related hoaxes?
_____________
Welcome to readers of The LOLBRARY. What do you think? (Tip of the old scrub brush to CapnUnderpants, who must be a great guy.)
_____________
Dear Readers, in 2013 – how about leaving a note in comments to tell me from where you’re coming? Who referred you to this set of facts?
Millard Fillmore's Bathtub 
Then there is this:
LikeLike
Opposite side of the same van?
Found at the Freeper site. They didn’t notice the problems, their having never read the bill.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2325806/posts
LikeLike
Oops. I guess Congress isn’t exempt from ObamaCare.
LikeLike
Hey! MFB made Craig’s List!
http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/pol/4455677303.html
LikeLike
Sunnyrolex said:
No hangup. But if a guy can be so wrong on what he paints on his truck, let us all hope he’s more circumspect when picking what his tattoos say. If you’re going to honor your favorite team, you don’t ask for the “Boston Yankees, or the Philadelphia Celtics, whatever.”
LikeLike
Dear Reader, please offer your views in this simple poll on how ObamaCare has affected your health insurance: https://timpanogos.wordpress.com/2014/03/22/still-have-questions-on-obamacare-heres-the-answer-site-and-a-poll/
LikeLike
What’s the hang up on tattoo’s or tattoo parlors. I would say that 50% of our military have tattoos (just a guess). So does that make those who defend your country and your freedom lesser than you?
LikeLike
I’d really like some Republican to explain to me why they’re fine with Republicans in Congress having government paid for health care but think it’s a terrible idea for the rest of us.
LikeLike
The_Don said:
You guys attend the same mosque?
LikeLike
Thanks for commenting, dancerboots.
Not sure it was a mistake. It was an amendment offered by Sen. Charles Grassley, with the intent of exposing Democrats to a vote against their own health care exchanges — a purely political public relations amendment. To Grassley’s surprise, the Senate voted for it, and it stuck.
It’s a stupid amendment in the grand scheme of things, because it puts pressure on the D.C. insurance exchange; but, it also failed to include the provisions you note, to allow employer contributions.
In the end, to keep the flap from becoming a double-reverse success for the GOP, Obama announced a waiver of sorts (I’m not sure of the details).
When I staffed the Senate, I loved the plans offered. Generally the best one was through the U.S. Postal Workers Union. Most of the time I chose the GWU HMO plan (which was a true HMO in those days). My chief urologist was Reagan’s urologist, too — turns out Reagan used the same option.
We got great care. Our oldest son was born at GWU Hospital on that plan. Never had an appointment that didn’t turn into a discussion about health care problems in the world, and almost always it came down to “get people in for care regularly, find disease and injuries early, treat ’em early and thoroughly, and use every preventive method available; public payer, single payer, whatever it takes.”
It takes a dastardly, evil-seeking GOP to turn good health care into a problem, you know?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congress is not exempted from opting into Obamacare in 2014 and Reuters should be ashamed for printing a misleading headline..thanks for the link blueollie. What happened is Congress is today under the FEHBP. They have numerous plans and tiers to choose from the private sector health insurance companies.The federal government (their employer) pays part of the premium…just as is done for employees if the employer offers this benefit (the employer/business gets to write their costs off as a deduction). Those without insurance that are eligible to purchase through the state exchanges receive a subsidy. There was a drafting mistake or an oversight when the act was written that didn’t address how the federal government would “subsidize” or pay part of the premium. Congressional members and their staff would have been stuck paying the full cost of the premiums. While, I am sure many wouldn’t mind this..it was not fair and their staff would be affected as well.
LikeLike
[…] of the distortions of ObamaCare all over Facebook, blogs, and […]
LikeLike
[…] https://timpanogos.wordpress.com/2012/04/17/obamacare-making-stuff-up-to-complain-about/ […]
LikeLike
To quote: oh also last time i checked.. in the Election of 1850 Abraham Lincoln was a Republican…wanted to Stop the Spread of Slavery…and also became one of the best presidents our nation has ever had… .. Both Northern and Southern DEMOS–TS!! … Supported Slavery…. which would explain why the Demos–ts!! are once again trying to enslave America
And then the Republican party abandoned Lincoln in the middle of the 20th century and became the party of segregation and slavery and are the ones busily enslaving the masses to their corporate masters.
Sorry, Don, you are living in a fantasy world. Either get out of it or go check yourself into an insane asylum for your health.
LikeLike
Looks to me as if the f— is already awake, but could use a week or more of good sleep.
LikeLike
oh also last time i checked.. in the Election of 1850 Abraham Lincoln was a Republican…wanted to Stop the Spread of Slavery…and also became one of the best presidents our nation has ever had… .. Both Northern and Southern DEMOS–TS!! … Supported Slavery…. which would explain why the Demos–ts!! are once again trying to enslave America.. its called payback..because everyone still wants to pull the dumbass race card all the damn time.. and everyone wants to hate everyone else… So there is your facts you left wing ignoramis.. and also GO FUDGE YOURSELF!! I have fought for my country once..and will do it again when some group of dumbasses like you ever tries to come and take any of my God Given Rights!!!.. You might want to think who you are going to war with lol.. Most Gun owners are Military Vets. And dont give a shit about bullets flying by. In fact we actually get a rush out of it.. kinda like a oooohhh booy im back in the office haha… So keep supporting Obama if you want. but remember.. we are armed,trained and full of Combat experience.. How about you? lol
LikeLike
if you still seriously think the war is over oil you a f—– idiot! have you ever been over there? pretty sure i have.. pretty sure i didn’t go drill any oil wells either you f—— nimwit! how would you like your 13 year old kid get killed because you wont grow poppy for Obama? haha you obviously know nothing if you support him. Last i checked he is a Muslim.. same people that have been causing s— every since creation you moron.. WAKE THE F— UP!
LikeLike
And then there’s Congresswoman Harpy “Batshit Crazy” Bachmann introducing in the House the 34th attempt to repeal Obamacare.
Because somehow since the first 33 attempts didn’t work the 34th magically will.
Morgan, joe, can you now admit that your party has gone off the deepend into lalaland?
LikeLike
See the other side of the van (still unidentified as to city, owner, etc.): http://thebsreport.wordpress.com/2009/11/19/pic-of-the-night-the-health-care-van/#comment-15355
LikeLike
david kelly. u sure a f*****g hater. stop your name calling and personal attacks and deliver a point from all the FACTS that YOU have read. and reference it.
I have read them. others have too. and will do. its like the republicans “plans” just a bunch of words ” we will be better than this” “”we will succeed”
im sorry, we all saw how your dubyaa and his daddy f****d all of us in the arse with their Iraq and oil obsession. we all still remember that and we will never ever support that ever again.
Freedom of slaves to some in your party is still a hoax. and thats why the relenetless pressure is there to keep the poor and blacks in that state, to deny them the same opportunities that donald drump and his cronie capitalist buddies like mitt romney and that other casino owner sugar daddy have had.
so go Fudge yourself and reference the facts mister all you know is to how sound perfectly bitter like a 65 old man who got all his pension wiped out by bush and now likes to take it out on this president.
LikeLike
what explains the sheer number of these hoaxes?
1. dead heat of presidential race
2. obama is black
3. America is racist, generally speaking (with majority being racist inside and never “speak” of it. but they sure vote so.)
LikeLike
So, Mr. Kelley, insurance companies should be able to kick people off insurance for getting sick?
Insurance companies should be able to deny people insurance because of “preexisting conditions”?
Insurance companies should be able to deny health care to little children when they have cancer or other such things?
LikeLike
Mr. Kelly writes:
You can’t because it’s real. God, you are the dumbest people on the planet.
Look in the mirror there, child. Because you’re the one that holds this position that “Government shouldn’t provide health care” and yet your own party’s leaders all get their health care from…wait for it…from the government. And the hypocrisy that they have what they say they won’t give you is completely lost on you. Nor do you and yours have the intelligence enough to demand that they give up their own “government health care.”
And you call liberals stupid? Oh no little boy….that charge lies most heavily on you and yours.
As for your claim about the exemption..if you want to claim it’s true then find the passage in the ACA law that says so.
Put up or shut up.
LikeLike
Mr. Kelly, please read the post. No one in Congress, and no one in the executive branch including the President, is exempted from the law. I have cited the actual law, and I have provided ample links to the law so you can check it out yourself.
LikeLike
So, all you libtards…perhaps you can explain how ALL of Pelosi’s buddies and Reid’s buddies and ANYONE that the SUPPORTING morons want are EXEMPTED? You can’t because it’s real. God, you are the dumbest people on the planet. This is nothing but a tax and a scam you welcome it like a bunch of sheep. Open your eyes and actually READ facts instead of listening to an illegal, un-American liar whose sweet talked you into your false sense of security. You will be the first to be imprisoned.
LikeLike
I’ll give you 10 to 1 odds this guy thought Iraq was all about oil too.
LikeLike
Any way one parses the bill, the claims that Congress and the President are exempt, are incorrect claims.
LikeLike
I can explain this easily- the guy made a typo. It’s not page 114, it’s page 144. He’s still wrong, though.
Page 144 quote:
[19] (j) DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND DE-
[20] PARTMENT OF DEFENSE HEALTH PROGRAMS.—Nothing in
[21] this section shall be construed as affecting any authority
[22] under title 38, United States Code, or chapter 55 of title
[23] 10, United States Code.
Title 38 deals entirely with veterans’ benefits. Chapter 55 of title 10 deals specifically with veterans’ health and dental care. They don’t address Congress.
LikeLike
he saw it somewhere on Facebook, and that was good enough for him.
LikeLike
Oh at least to some degree you’re right, Joe.
Right now though your side of the political fence seems to have a special fondness for such conspiracy theories and on a large scale.
Though the best one I’ve heard regarding the ACA ruling is that Justice Roberts decided that way because President Obama threatened to kill Robert’s family.
It would be a good thing if the leaders condemned such nonsense.
LikeLike
Patrick spouts:
Good thing Romney is going to REPEAL it!!
That’s assuming 1: he’s going to win and that 2: Republicans, if they win the senate, will be able to block any Democrat fillibuster.
But question, Patrick…if he does repeal it..then what?
We go back to the days when insurance companies could kick people off insurance for being sick and condemn kids to death for getting cancer?
But in light of the picture Ed posted above…if government provided health care is so bad..then why does every single Republican in Congress have it? And why does every Republican state official also have it?
LikeLike
Clint, can you imagine the disaster if this guy got stuff tattooed, that was inaccurate, or wrong?
You may recall the old doo-wop song, “The Wanderer.” It was about a guy who got his girl’s name tattooed on one arm, then they broke up. He had to get some other tattoo to cover it up. He repeated this with five or six different women by the time the song was written. Wonder: Did he ever settle down? What was left to tattoo?
It takes some planning to paint a political claim on one’s truck — but it can be covered up with a can of paint if it’s wrong. Tattoos? Paint isn’t such a good solution.
LikeLike
What does having tattoos having anything to do with this guy being an idiot?
LikeLike
Also Patrick, aside from being a moron you should read more: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/06/28/repeal-is-a-fantasy.html
LikeLike
Patrick, you’re an idiot. Just wanted to let you know.
LikeLike
*Patrick* Good thing Romeny won’t ever have the chance to “Repeal” it!!! Instead of being brainwashed by either side…why don’t you read and decide for yourself. You can use the dictionary if the words get too big for you.
LikeLike
I kind of think that there will always be people embellishing and making stuff up on both sides…kind of like the conspiracy theorists who say 9/11 was an inside job to get us into Iraq for oil. Sigh…it goes both ways.
LikeLike
Good thing Romney is going to REPEAL it!!
LikeLike
[…] to van painters: try fact checking, first; Sean Hannity doesn't count.) #ddtbEmbedded Link ObamaCare: Making stuff up to complain about Collected on Facebook, April 16, 2012: Here’s the text from H.R. 3200, the Affordable Care Act, […]
LikeLike
Why is there no avatar for the blueollie blog?
LikeLike
[…] Fillmore can’t find the text in the act itself…and here is why he can’t: it isn’t in there. What is on the […]
LikeLike
Shouldn’t that read “Congressional Republicans, if the private market is such a great thing for getting insurance…why is it that none of you use the private market and all of you use the government for your health care?”
LikeLike
Perfect, blueollie! Thanks.
LikeLike
Here is a link that explains where this misinformation comes from:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2011/12/08/congress-exempted-from-obamacare/
LikeLike