Why do they always refuse to leave until they die in office?

steve2^4 · Oct 15, 2017

They must adhere to strict government guidelines and offer better coverage and lower out-of-pocket than policies I've been offered through private employers the last 10 years. Gold plated isn't far off the mark.

Dinner · Oct 15, 2017

steve2^4 said: ↑

Prior to the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (also known as ACA, or Obamacare), members of Congress received the same healthcare insurance benefits as any other federal employee through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, or FEHBP.

During the mark-up of the ACA bill, however, lawmakers inserted a provision (Section 1312(d)(3)(D)) that requires members of Congress and designated congressional staff members to obtain their health insurance through ACA exchanges rather than continue to receive their healthcare coverage through the FEHBP.

Contrary to popular belief, Congressional members do not receive free health care. As it does for other federal employees who purchase their insurance through the FEHBP, the federal government provides a subsidy equivalent to 72 percent of the weighted average of all FEHBP premiums.

If the Affordable Care Act is repealed, members of Congress have a fallback plan. They would be able to return to the FEHBP. Twenty million other Americans won’t.

snopes

FEHBP is "run" by private insurance companies according to government standards. It's less expensive than typical non-government employer's offerings and offers greater coverage.

premiums by state
GA Blue Cross government employee plan.
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So I used to be right.

Fisherman's Worf · Oct 16, 2017

Federal Farmer said: ↑

In other words it's not government run universal healthcare.
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Tuckerfan · Oct 19, 2017

Another example of someone who's been in power for 39 years and needs to be gone.

GOP Senator Is Wandering Congress 'Disoriented,' Accidentally Voting Wrong

Republican Senator Thad Cochran is insisting that he’s not retiring, despite a string of troubling anecdotes reported by Politico that depict the lawmaker from Mississippi accidentally voting wrong until an aide corrected him, sunnily remarking on the “beautiful day outside” when asked about tax reform, and needing a staffer to remind him where the Senate chambers were.

Cochran has been suffering from health issues recently, and was absent from the Senate for nearly a month, recovering from urological issues. His hospitalization was infamously used by President Trump as an excuse for why the GOP healthcare bill failed. He returned to the chamber this week, but clearly something is still off.

During a hallway interview on Wednesday, the Politico reporters recounted how the 79-year-old (emphasis added throughout):

...appeared frail and at times disoriented during a brief hallway interview on Wednesday. He was unable to answer whether he would remain chairman of the Appropriations Committee, and at one point, needed a staffer to remind him where the Senate chamber is located. ‘Don’t believe everything you hear,’ Cochran said in a low voice when asked whether he plans to retire after 44 years in office.
Asked if he would remain chairman of that committee, Cochran asked the reporters to repeat themselves, and apparently seemed confused about the premise.

‘As chairman of the Appropriations Committee?’ Cochran asked. Cochran had to be guided by staffers around a security checkpoint inside the Capitol. He started to walk into a first-floor room—though the Senate chamber is on the second floor. He was then ushered by an aide up to the Senate.
Things didn’t improve once Cochran reached the floor for a lengthy voting session, when he kept trying to vote “yes” even as staffers and Republican floor leaders repeatedly tried to remind him that he actually meant “no”:

“On one amendment, Cochran voted ‘yes’ despite being told by an aide to vote ‘no.’ The staffer tried to get the senator to switch his vote, but Cochran kept flashing the ‘thumbs up’ sign, even walking over to the clerk tallying the vote and doing so. GOP floor staffers repeatedly told him the leadership wanted a ‘no’ vote. Several more moments passed before Cochran realized he was voting the wrong way and then changed his vote.”
This is sometimes what happens when people get very old. Cochran will be a critical vote if tax reform comes to a vote, so it’s in the Republicans’ best interest to keep him around, even if he goes full Reagan.
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Dinner · Oct 20, 2017

Reagan was another one who was a complete vegetable while in office.

Nova · Oct 21, 2017

Tuckerfan said: ↑

Another example of someone who's been in power for 39 years and needs to be gone.

GOP Senator Is Wandering Congress 'Disoriented,' Accidentally Voting Wrong

Republican Senator Thad Cochran is insisting that he’s not retiring, despite a string of troubling anecdotes reported by Politico that depict the lawmaker from Mississippi accidentally voting wrong until an aide corrected him, sunnily remarking on the “beautiful day outside” when asked about tax reform, and needing a staffer to remind him where the Senate chambers were.

Cochran has been suffering from health issues recently, and was absent from the Senate for nearly a month, recovering from urological issues. His hospitalization was infamously used by President Trump as an excuse for why the GOP healthcare bill failed. He returned to the chamber this week, but clearly something is still off.

During a hallway interview on Wednesday, the Politico reporters recounted how the 79-year-old (emphasis added throughout):

...appeared frail and at times disoriented during a brief hallway interview on Wednesday. He was unable to answer whether he would remain chairman of the Appropriations Committee, and at one point, needed a staffer to remind him where the Senate chamber is located. ‘Don’t believe everything you hear,’ Cochran said in a low voice when asked whether he plans to retire after 44 years in office.
Asked if he would remain chairman of that committee, Cochran asked the reporters to repeat themselves, and apparently seemed confused about the premise.

‘As chairman of the Appropriations Committee?’ Cochran asked. Cochran had to be guided by staffers around a security checkpoint inside the Capitol. He started to walk into a first-floor room—though the Senate chamber is on the second floor. He was then ushered by an aide up to the Senate.
Things didn’t improve once Cochran reached the floor for a lengthy voting session, when he kept trying to vote “yes” even as staffers and Republican floor leaders repeatedly tried to remind him that he actually meant “no”:

“On one amendment, Cochran voted ‘yes’ despite being told by an aide to vote ‘no.’ The staffer tried to get the senator to switch his vote, but Cochran kept flashing the ‘thumbs up’ sign, even walking over to the clerk tallying the vote and doing so. GOP floor staffers repeatedly told him the leadership wanted a ‘no’ vote. Several more moments passed before Cochran realized he was voting the wrong way and then changed his vote.”
This is sometimes what happens when people get very old. Cochran will be a critical vote if tax reform comes to a vote, so it’s in the Republicans’ best interest to keep him around, even if he goes full Reagan.
Click to expand...

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My senior senator.

The ironic thing is that even with an addled old man being led by the hand, he's FAR better than the Bannon-ite monster who almost primaried him (and who's having a go at Wicker next year)

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Why do they always refuse to leave until they die in office?

steve2^4 Aged Meat

Dinner 2012 & 2014 Master Prognosticator

Fisherman's Worf I am the Seaman, I am the Walrus, Qu-Qu-Qapla'!

Tuckerfan BMF

Dinner 2012 & 2014 Master Prognosticator

Nova livin on the edge of the ledge Writer

Log in or Sign up

Why do they always refuse to leave until they die in office?

steve2^4 Aged Meat

Dinner 2012 & 2014 Master Prognosticator

Fisherman's Worf I am the Seaman, I am the Walrus, Qu-Qu-Qapla'!

Tuckerfan BMF

Dinner 2012 & 2014 Master Prognosticator

Nova livin on the edge of the ledge Writer

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