The Senate Health Committee recently voted 12-11 in favor of a two-page amendment that would require all Congresspersons and senators, their families and their staffs to enroll in any new government-run health plan. Under proposed legislation, they are curiously exempt.
This amendment has been introduced by Congressman John Fleming of Louisiana, a physician. If you would like to sign [U.S.] Sen. Fleming's petition, you can do so at http://fleming.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=55. If Congress forces a government-run health plan on the American people, then Congress should have to accept the same level of health care for themselves, their families and staffs. To do otherwise is the height of hypocrisy!
— Jerry Edwards
Asheville
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The hypocritical move on the part of the DIMS to exempt Congress and the Senate from using the same health care plan as the People are having forced on them is reminiscent of the behavior of the PIGS in the book, “Animal Farm”, a classic that mayhap should be resurrected and made required reading for our high school youth. This book by George Orwell is an entertaining and easily read piece that clearly displays the acts of tyrants. Plus it can be read in a two hour sitting. Just the thing for our present crop of attention-deficit disordered teenagers.
I was required to read “Animal Farm” three times in high school (Buncombe County). I got it the first time.
Just have them read Dostoevsky instead.
Give Bruce a break. It sounds like he may have just discovered this book that the rest of us were required to read in public school.
Mr. Edwards is misinformed. There is no such exemption.
Citations:
http://tinyurl.com/yzf7qae
http://tinyurl.com/ya3dvxy
MtnExpress staff should have fact-checked before perpetuating a rumor on their print publication.
– pvh
Fact checking here was non-existent. Try harder next time Mountain Express.
Fact-finding indeed. Both Congress and the Senate are privileged to exemptions, benefits, and special treatment the rest of us will never get, but certainly have to pay for for our lofty representatives. I say all for one and one for all- no special treatment for these people. considering the paltry job they do, maybe there should be time-outs and demerits instead!!