Today, the Senate leadership released their revisions to H.R. 1628, the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA) and there are some important changes. Whether the new language will be enough to garner the votes needed to pass a bill remains to be seen. Importantly, the legislation continues to eliminate many of the onerous taxes and provides relief from the mandates contained in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), or Obamacare, and reforms Medicaid. The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste announced its support today for the legislation.
A Day of Uniform, Uninformed Activity
The “net neutrality” proponents are at it again, plotting to slog up the internet with a “Day of Action” on July 12, 2017. Similar activity occurred in 2012 in response to legislation regarding online piracy. Since that legislation was abandoned by Congress, these same agitators believe they will have success in shutting down the Restoring Internet Freedom Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) (WC Docket No. 17-108) currently in process at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) by inundating the agency and Congress with a high volume of comments against the proposed rule.
Waste in the State Department
Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) has detailed the federal government’s failure to keep up with modernizing technology for decades. As far back as 1984, the Grace Commission found that the federal government’s computer systems were outdated and incompatible, and much more needed to be done to upgrade and improve the efficiency of federal information technology (IT). Yet, federal agencies continue to waste taxpayer dollars on IT systems that are either antiquated or fail to deliver.
They’re Ba-ack! Congress Returns
With apologies to Poltergeist, the Congress returns this week from its Independence Day break. All eyes are on the Senate as the country wonders if the Republicans can come together and pass healthcare legislation that will stabilize the individual health insurance market that has been devastated by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), or Obamacare.
Senate Delay on Obamacare Repeal is a Pothole in the Road
On June 27, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced there would be no vote on the Senate’s bill, H.R. 1628, the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA), to repeal and replace the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), or Obamacare, until after the Independence Day recess. Capitol Hill staffers have said the delay is simply a “pothole in the road.” In other words, while efforts have slowed down, the legislative process is moving forward.
A Declaration of Independence from Obamacare
When in the course of American history, it becomes necessary to dissolve an odious and oppressive law like the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), the causes which compel this action should be declared.
Who is Elizabeth MacDonough and Why is She Important?
Elizabeth MacDonough’s job doesn’t generally bring her into the limelight. While MacDonough has served as the Senate parliamentarian for five years and has worked in the office of the parliamentarian for eighteen, the public knows little of her important role with the upcoming debate on the senate bill to repeal and replace the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) or Obamacare.
This is Not What I Meant by Revamp
In April 2017, CAGW published an article I wrote regarding FedRAMP, and efforts to modernize and streamline the process. Part the effort was the proposed implementation of a FedRAMP Tailored process for low-impact systems.
Time to Kill the Death Panel
With Congress poised to repeal and replace Obamacare, the time has come to abolish the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), a little-known but dangerous provision within the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). Congress needs to repeal IPAB, and if it were not for the arcane rules surrounding the budget reconciliation process being used to repeal Obamacare, it certainly would have been included in either of the repeal-and-replace bills being debated.
Obamacare Repeal and Replace: It’s the Senate’s Turn
Tomorrow, on June 22, Senators are supposed to receive a discussion draft of the Senate version of the American Health Care Act (AHCA), an Obamacare repeal and replacement bill. Currently, the goal is to vote on the legislation next week, just before the July 4 recess. The House passed its version, H.R. 1628, on May 4, 2017, by a vote of 217 to 213. Everyone in Washington is anxiously waiting to see and review the draft bill.