[jeffkrol]

you ALL should find this funny.........

A newly elected Republican member of Congress who hammered his Democratic opponent on health care is wondering why his government-subsidized insurance takes a month to kick in.

Politico is reporting that Andy Harris, an anethesiologist who defeated Rep. Frank Kratovil on Maryland's Eastern Shore, asked what he is supposed to do without health care coverage for 28 days during a briefing session on benefits for new lawmakers.

WELCOME to the real world..................
New GOP lawmaker asks: Why wait for health care? - On Politics: Covering the US Congress, Governors, and the 2010 Election - USATODAY.com
Ezra Klein - Wonkbook: DeMint wins major internal battle; unemployment benefits might expire for 2 mil; anti-reform congressman wants his gov-provided health care now

"Republican Andy Harris, an anesthesiologist who defeated freshman Democrat Frank Kratovil on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, reacted incredulously when informed that federal law mandated that his government-subsidized health care policy would take effect on Feb. 1 - 28 days after his Jan. 3rd swearing-in. 'He stood up and asked the two ladies who were answering questions why it had to take so long, what he would do without 28 days of health care,' said a congressional staffer who saw the exchange. The benefits session, held behind closed doors, drew about 250 freshman members, staffers and family members to the Capitol Visitors Center auditorium late Monday morning."

[Parallax]

A newly elected Republican member of Congress who hammered his Democratic opponent on health care is wondering why his government-subsidized insurance takes a month to kick in.

Politico is reporting that Andy Harris, an anethesiologist who defeated Rep. Frank Kratovil on Maryland's Eastern Shore, asked what he is supposed to do without health care coverage for 28 days during a briefing session on benefits for new lawmakers.

Can you say "chutzpah"?

[jeffkrol]

Can you say "chutzpah"?

No but I can cay d!ck h@ad............

[Parallax]

No but I can cay d!ck h@ad............

[MRRiley]

uhhhhh same reason it takes a month for ANY health care to kick in. This dipstick needs to remember when he got his last job it also took a month to kick in. In the meantime he is welcome to use COBRA just like the rest of us do between jobs.

[jeffkrol]

uhhhhh same reason it takes a month for ANY health care to kick in. This dipstick needs to remember when he got his last job it also took a month to kick in. In the meantime he is welcome to use COBRA just like the rest of us do between jobs.

He's a doctor. It was probably "instantaneous", pre-x waived and no premiums out of pocket............ these things are all contract dependent...
BTW: 90 days is becoming "standard"............
And did he ever hear of that gouge system called "COBRA". I'm sure he can afford it, but it's pretty clear PAYING for heath care insurance is not in his vocabulary.......... though apparently he will have to.

A Kaiser survey found the average PPO premium for individual coverage was $4,802 in 2008. For a family, the premium was $12,937. The federal plan's premiums were higher ($5,386) for individuals but lower ($12,335) for families, according to the Office of Personnel Management.

The government paid 69% of that premium for a family, less than the 73% average.

"These aren't the wonderful, exemplary plans ... that many people think they are," said Jon Gabel of the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago. "They are not the Cadillac plans."

Lawmakers can also utilize taxpayer-subsidized care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington and the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., had bypass surgery at Bethesda in 2003. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., battled cancer last year with treatments received at both sites.

Pete Sepp, a spokesman with the National Taxpayers Union and an expert on benefits received by members of Congress, questioned whether those additional perks skew how lawmakers look at health care.

"It sure can't help their perception of what the average consumer has to deal with," he said.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-06-23-congress-benefits_N.htm

[mikemike]

asked what he is supposed to do without health care coverage for 28 days during a briefing session on benefits for new lawmakers.

Contemplate life, study the issues facing you when you start to work as a congressman, talk with your constituents, and exercise caution when performing dangerous tasks.

[Parallax]

Contemplate life, study the issues facing you when you start to work as a congressman, talk with your constituents, and exercise caution when performing dangerous tasks.

.........and try not to screw things up worse than they are.

[jeffkrol]

Contemplate life, study the issues facing you when you start to work as a congressman, talk with your constituents, and exercise caution when performing dangerous tasks.

Ha, ha ha ha......... funny

.........and try not to screw things up worse than they are.

Even funnier..........
As to mr. head.............

"This is the only employer I've ever worked for where you don't get coverage the first day you are employed," he reportedly complained, outraged by the delay.

For a man of the people, that's a pretty impressive résumé. Most workers in this country have to wait weeks between their first day on the job and the day their health insurance kicks in. Sometimes more.

According to the 2010 Kaiser Family Foundation annual survey of employer-provided health benefits, most workers would be lucky to start a new job in Harris' shoes.

"Seventy-four percent of covered workers face a waiting period before coverage is available. Covered workers in the Northeast are less likely (64%) than workers in other regions to face a waiting period." the report reads. "The average waiting period among covered workers who face a waiting period is 2.2 months.... Thirty-one percent of covered workers face a waiting period of 3 months or more."

Study: Most Workers Have To Wait Longer For Health Insurance Than Congress | TPMDC
I think the whole 2010 election should be a do-over......
AS to "no new taxes"............. and listening to people........

In a policy speech at the business-friendly Tax Council today, incoming Ways and Means Committee chairman David Camp called the Democratic plan for tax cuts -- a permanent tax cut extension for all income up to $200,000, and a temporary extension for income above that level -- "a terrible idea and a total nonstarter."

Now, everybody knows what's going on here. Republicans have been clear for months that their long term goal is to make sure all of these rates are extended permanently. But that means they don't want to have a fight in two or three years in which they side with the wealthiest two percent of the country against the Democrats. That's a losing fight, and terrible politics.

But they can't really come out and say that. If you ask a Republican member about this "decoupling" idea, the most common response you'll get is that it's a recipe for future tax increases. The implication is clear -- but good luck getting a more candid explanation.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/11/gops-top-tax-guy-republicans-will....php?

[cardinal43]

No but I can cay d!ck h@ad............

And hypocrite.

[mikemike]

I forgot, he should stock up on Viagra before his old insurance kicks off...

“I’ve covered the Hill for about 16 years. The effect this place has, especially [on] men who come to Washington who are away from their families and the behavior you see at night is the behavior you often saw from our friends in college. Especially unattractive members of the Congress who have not had women show attention to them maybe since college. They come here. Power is an aphrodisiac. Suddenly they have women who are interested in them. It’s a temptation some can’t withstand.”

Joe Scarborough appeared to know exactly what VandeHei was referring to and replied with what may or may not have been a joke. “Some of the fattest, ugliest guys,” the former congressman said. “One walking down the street with his mistress smoking pot. It was crazy man, crazy.”

‘Power is an Aphrodisiac’: Reporter Warns Even Ugly Congressmen About D.C. Sexcapades | The Blaze

Although I looked him up and hes not that much of an uggo.

[Oldschool]

I forgot, he should stock up on Viagra before his old insurance kicks off....

Just keep him out of airport bathrooms

[johnmflores]

Wow, that is all kinds of awesome. New elected anti-healthcare conservatives should put their money where their mouths are and opt-out of their Congressional health care plans. How many would actually do that??