ACTUALLY TAKING ACTION – AT 8:49 A.M. ET:   It is invigorating, and shocking, when Republicans actually do something.  It's a moment to remember.  It will be in the history books.

Many among we mere peasants have wondered when the GOP would take real action against Obamacare, and now it's happened.  From WaPo: 

Thirty-eight Republican lawmakers are signaling support for a lawsuit filed by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) that challenges a rule by the Obama administration allowing the federal government to subsidize health insurance for lawmakers and some congressional staffers.

With the health-care law exceeding enrollment expectations and legislative attempts to undo the law failing to advance beyond the GOP-controlled House, Johnson's lawsuit is one of the few other attempts underway to chip away at the law.

Johnson filed the lawsuit in January against the Office of Personnel Management, arguing that the agency's ruling runs counter to the intent of the Affordable Care Act.

OPM ruled last year that lawmakers and their staff who will have to get their health insurance through the law would continue to receive a government contribution toward premiums this year, but only if they enroll in a specific ACA plan. The policy was issued as House Republican leaders floated a plan, as part of maneuvering last year during a budgetary deadlock, to end that contribution for Congress and certain employees who will be forced out of their current health program.

COMMENT:  Please note that the Washington Post felt compelled to tell us that enrollment in ACA is "exceeding enrollment expectations."  That is rubbish.  We haven't been told how many enrollees actually have paid premiums; nor have we been told how many are simply replacing plans that were killed by Obamacare.  And there is no word on whether these enrollees will keep their plans once premiums skyrocket, something expected, ahem, after the midterm elections in November.

April 22, 2014