PUBLIC VIEWPOINT Congress A ‘Special Ruling Class’

You and I have a very precarious situation in our health care options as compared to our congressional representatives.

In addition to a salary of $174,000 annually, members are aft orded the following health care benefi ts.

Obviously, this health care is substantially more thanthe rest of us receive.

Health care for our members of Congress:

  1. For House and Senate members the government pays 72 to 75 percent of the premiums for its workers, depending on the policy chosen, with money borrowed from China. If you earn $174,000, you will be expected to pay the full Obamacare premium - whatever that will be- with NO assistance for your premium.

  2. Plus, they (but not their families) are eligible to receive limited medical services from the Off ce of the Attending Physician of the U.S. Capitol, after payment of an annual fee ($491 in 2007).

  3. Plus, House and Senate members (but not their families) also are eligible to receive care atmilitary hospitals.

Now, with this grandiose Obamacare program, you would expect members of Congress to take the same “medicine” you and I are required to swallow, but no. They are “a special ruling class” of folks who get to set their own salaries and benefi ts.

AL LEMKE

Gentry

Opinion, Pages 10 on 12/08/2013

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