Freshman GOPer Didn't Know Government Paid For Her Health Benefits

[ProSense]

Freshman GOPer Didn't Know Government Paid For Her Health Benefits

Brian Beutler

A fun nugget buried in this story about Rep. Ann Buerkle's (R-NY) first town hall meeting as an elected member of Congress. Constituents repeatedly asked a puzzled Buerkle about her health benefits. She couldn't figure out why. But her staff sure could.

Buerkle, who voted to repeal the health care reform act, was twice asked about the health insurance she receives as a government employee. At first she said she couldn't understand why people were so interested in her health insurance, and that taxpayers didn't pay anything for it. She later corrected herself after being handed a note from a staffer. Like most employees, she pays for a portion of her insurance and her employer, the government, pays the rest, she said.

As Republicans point out, these are employer provided benefits, which they're all for. So it's not as simple as straight hypocrisy. But there's a fundamental tension between the GOP's naysaying on health care reform and their willingness to accept federally subsidized private insurance -- just as in the health care law. These flubs grow out of that tension. And Dems can't get enough of it.

[flpoljunkie]

1. The government pays the lion's share of her healthcare insurance, as well.

[JoePhilly]

6. And the plans that are offerred are required to meet muich stronger

standards than what a self-employed American can get.

And that is the critical issue.

For a plan to be included in the government plan, it needs to meet some very serious standards.

But the GOP members don't want the average American to get similar health care.

[flpoljunkie]

9. The R's want Americans to buy unregulated 'catastrophic' policies sold 'across state lines.'

Big profits for health insurance industry!

[JoePhilly]

10. Exactly ... the GOP members get awesome plans ... and the average American ...

gets to pay too much for a plan that won;t cover %^$#$ when it really matters.

[Mimosa]

18. Insurance corps try to make Self-employed drop insurance

By raising our premiums, deductibles and co-pays beyond what we can afford.

You nailed it, Joe.

[WonderGrunion]

2. She pays her part from her government funded salary.

Taxpayers pay for her entire healthcare package.

[ClassWarrior]

3. "And Dems can't get enough of it."

How true... :rofl:

NGU.

[safeinOhio]

4. Let me guess....

tea party?

[KansDem]

5. I used to think you had to be "the best and the brightest" to be a member of Congress

:rofl:

[enough]

7. Where I come from, all you need is to be a minimally presentable party (R) hack. (nt)

[unblock]

8. one of the many rules that apply to democrats only

[tanyev]

11. Her bio lists her previous occupations as nurse and attorney.

:banghead:

[Brother Buzz]

12. A registered nurse and health care attorney!

I'm crying

[eilen]

13. She's a dimwit who used to be married to Dr. Buerkle

an orthopedic surgeon in my town. Tea Partier, wants to defund the Dept. of Ed. (sent her kids to private schools) -- she won by a hair against Dan Maffei.

The difference was Wayne County-- a rural county that turned out for her. Unfortunately she is now my representative. She has quite a spread out in Skaneateles. She was not a nurse for very long-- probably long enough to hook a husband. After that she worked as a school nurse sub (almost never) while she took law classes and popped out one brat after another.
She hasn't been a nurse in 20 years.
She wasn't a DA she was an assistant attorney general suing people who couldn't pay their medical bills at Upstate Medical Center.

[senseandsensibility]

14. k and r

eom

[Enthusiast]

15. She must have thought the

health care fairy took care of it.

[Leithan]

16. Mentored by Bachmann?

[ShadowLiberal]

17. Congressmen don't even have to pay anything for government healthcare, the annual 'fee' is optional

I forget the exact amount a congressmen is supposed to pay for health care, it's around $500 dollars, but that fee is optional, and the government rarely refuses to pay a congressman's bills from them not paying the fee. I think less then half of congress actually pays the fee.