While the ObamaCare program was to be the solution to our broken health care system, it seems that even those who vigorously supported its enactment no longer feel that way. To date over 1000 waivers have been granted to major organizations which could afford to and knew how to seek waivers. These are one-year waivers from the requirements of the Act. However, each waiver can be issued each year thereafter. It seems to be that people cannot just walk through the front door and apply for a waiver. There are no procedures and as soon as a procedure is discovered, it changes. The waiver process seems to be governed more by passages from Alice in Wonderland than the Administrative Procedures Act.
Well obviously these waivers must have been provided to those who simply cannot comply with the onerous requirements and would apparently suffer unreasonable burdens. Certainly, despite good intentions, there were serious unintended consequences. Well, not really! The list of those receiving waivers includes labor unions, some 269 of them, representing 2.5 million people. Really? Who are they? The list includes the Teamsters, UFCW, Steelworkers, CWA, Social Service Employees Union and the United Federation of Teachers. How about the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) which provided $27 Million to the Obama campaign. Sure, they received a waiver. Their contribution is clearly the gift that keeps on giving. Imagine my surprise!
One probably could ask how all this could happen with an Administration committed to “transparency.” Well the answer is that there is no transparency with this Administration. I raise this because there is concern in Washington that cuts of $27 Million in the Electronic Government Fund may end the herculean efforts of the Administration to open governmental agencies to the public. Actually, the budget for this area is $35 Million and would be reduced to $8 Million. It would seem that the value of transparency is $0, the budget for this item should be $0.
Former Speaker Pelosi was certainly right about one thing. “We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it.” Well, they did and we are trying to find our all that is in it. The more we find, the less we like it.
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