Remember six years ago when Michele Bachmann gave away the game and said before the 2010 midterms that "all we should do is issue subpoenas and have one hearing after another." in the House of Representatives?
Genius plan, Republicans. Kudos for sticking to it. The Hill reports that the Republican House is now issuing subpoenas for memos on how the Obama administration came up with funding plans for parts of Obamacare.
You read that right. Memos.
At issue are two separate portions of ObamaCare. One is the Basic Health Program, which states can choose to implement and is aimed at providing choices for low-income people with slightly too much income to qualify for Medicaid. The other is the law’s “cost-sharing reductions,” which are payments that help lower out-of pocket-costs for low-income ObamaCare enrollees.
Republicans argue that both initiatives are being illegally funded without a congressional appropriation. In a case brought by House Republicans, a federal judge ruled last month that the administration does not have the authority to pay out the cost sharing reductions, though the decision will be appealed.
The administration says that it has authority to fund both programs under a permanent appropriation given for the law’s tax credits.
Democrats say the Republican lawsuit renders the subpoenas unnecessary and argue the investigations are solely for political gain.
Ya think?
In the meantime, the sidebar articles at The Hill say "most insurers looking to stay in Obamacare exchanges" and "teen pregnancy drops again."
Not a coincidence.
Reps. Sandy Levin (D-Mich.) and Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.), the top Democrats on the two committees, have called the subpoenas part of a “witch hunt” against ObamaCare.
“These subpoenas are merely part of a larger pattern of wasting taxpayer time and money on undermining the [Affordable Care Act],” they said when the subpoenas were issued.
“This is the age old fight of executive power versus legislative power,” said Tom Scully, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under President George W. Bush. “It's been going on in every administration forever.”
Oh no, Tom. This administration is special. And you know it.
Unbiased reporting confirms that "if you actually count the number of White House officials or Cabinet members accused or convicted of crimes, President Obama’s administration is the cleanest since Jimmy Carter’s." Even David Brooks (yeah) wrote earlier this year that "The Obama administration has been remarkably scandal-free."
Except for the scandal that House Republicans have squandered hundreds of thousands of dollars and much opportunity to do good, witch-hunting this Administration.
I don't know where the Republican House finds the time to run all these investigations, what with their vacations and all.
