The Hill News

According to the Republican congressional leadership, one of the first actions in the 112th Congress will be House passage of a bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act. In so doing, they would take away key benefits and rights needed by America’s families, unravel a law that holds insurance companies much more accountable, and add a trillion dollars to the federal deficit over the next two decades. 

Incredibly, Republican leaders plan to take away from the American people the very health benefits and rights they intend to keep for themselves â€" courtesy of America’s taxpayers. 

This phenomenon was on clear display when new House members received their congressional orientation. Maryland Rep.-elect Andy Harris, who campaigned to repeal the Affordable Care Act, was furious when told that his federally subsidized healthcare coverage would not go into effect until February â€" some four weeks after his swearing in. Yet, he remains committed to taking away, immediately, comparable benefits and rights from his constituents and the American people.

The double standard, however, is by no means limited to Rep.-elect Harris. When it comes to healthcare, Republican congressional leaders are as intent on taking from us what they plan to keep for themselves.

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