Since practically day one following the passage of what was then referred to as the “Affordable Care Act,” and ever since as Obamacare, there has been of cause for concern, scandal even, that “several” businesses have been granted “waivers” that excuse them from having to participate in the intrusive federal program. And we now finally have the final number of just how many businesses are now considered as being exempt from having to participate. Roughly 1,200, yup you heard right, 1200, companies have received waivers from part of the healthcare reform law, the Health and Human Services Department (HHS) said Friday. Is that not freakin incredible?
“Friday marks the last time HHS will have to update the total number of waivers, putting to rest a recurring political firestorm. The department had been updating its waiver totals every month, prompting monthly attacks from the GOP,” or writes Sam Baker of The Hill. Naturally, Republican opposition to the bill seized on the granting of these waivers as an opportunity to further their argument that the healthcare law is “unworkable.” So how does the HHS justify handing out these waivers? Well, as being typical behavior from this, the most corrupt administration in my life, they fabricate their justification. The department argues that the waivers show that the law provides “flexibility.” Flexibility?
No you might wonder, as I found myself doing, just who it is that gets to choose when the law is “flexible,” and when it isn’t. “All told, 1,231 companies applied for and received waivers from the law’s restrictions on annual benefit caps,” Mr. Baker writes. “The law requires plans to gradually raise their benefit limits, and all annual limits will become illegal in 2014. Companies that received waivers can keep their caps intact until 2014.” When added together, the healthcare waivers excuse roughly 4 million people, or about 3 percent of the population, from having to participate, that according to HHS. And these rest of us are saddled with this meddling into our private lives.
But what’s even more a little unsettling, but is something that should come as no shock to anyone who has been paying attention, is the fact that the vast majority of the granted waivers were handed out to Barry’s labor union supporters. “Documents released in a classic Friday afternoon news dump show that labor unions representing 543,812 workers received waivers from President Barack Obama‘s signature legislation,” writes Paul Conner of the Daily Caller. “By contrast, private employers with a total of 69,813 employees, many of whom work for small businesses, were granted waivers.” So roughly 7 out of every 8 workers receiving a waiver, belong to one of Barry’s favorite core constituencies, unions.
Because of the backlash and public outcry brought about by the issuance of these waivers, HHS announced last summer that it would stop accepting applications for one-year waivers and would simply grant or deny waivers all the way through the end of 2013, again that according to The Hill. The total of 1,231 includes all of the waiver requests HHS has granted, including companies that only applied for a three-year waiver, companies that got a one-year waiver and an extension, and companies that received a one-year waiver but did not ask for an extension. A total of 96 waiver requests were denied by HHS. Again, why the healthcare law couldn’t be flexible for those 96 requests is anyone’s guess.
All this Obamacare is but one glaring example, on a very long list of many, of the level of corruption that exists and lengths this president will go to pander select groups as we march toward November 2012. There is an excellent book by Phil Kerpen, entitled “Democracy Denied,” in which the author outlines very clearly Barry’s attempts to circumvent Congress. Whether it’s through the EPA, the FCC, his corrupt Attorney General or his many Czars, Barry is determined to advance his agenda, whether the American people want it or not. The next election becomes more crucial with each passing day and far too many people simply are not paying sufficient attention. And to not pay attention may prove to be the most costly mistake any of us can make.
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