Another Obamacare Architect Warns of "Huge Train Wreck"
Wednesday, 24 April 2013 08:06 Written by Justin Credible
In the past two weeks, two liberal architects behind Obamacare have made their issues with the law known. First it was the disgrace to the Rockefeller name, Senator Jay Rockefeller, calling Obamacare "beyond comprehension," despite supporting the law he never read. Now it's the radical Senator Max Baucus (D - MT), who fears a "train wreck" as the Obama regime begins chaotically implementing Obamacare. Make no mistake, Baucus has no regrets with ramming Obamacare into law, but rather fears people won't understand how the law works.
The key difference behind Baucus' concerns about Obamacare compared to other liberals' is that he faces a tough re-election next year in Montana.* And the fact remains this: Obamacare is hugely unpopular and will only get worse as it gets implemented.
From the Hill:
Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) said Wednesday he fears a "train wreck" as the Obama administration implements its signature healthcare law.
Baucus, the chairman of the chamber's powerful Finance Committee and a key architect of the healthcare reform law, said he fears people do not understand how the law will work.
"I just see a huge train wreck coming down," he told Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius at a Wednesday hearing. "You and I have discussed this many times, and I don't see any results yet."
Baucus pressed Sebelius for details about how the Health Department will explain the law and raise awareness of its provisions, which are supposed to take effect in just a matter of months.
"I'm very concerned that not enough is being done so far — very concerned," Baucus said.
He pressed Sebelius to explain how her department will overcome entrenched misunderstandings about what the healthcare law does.
"Small businesses have no idea what to do, what to expect," Baucus said.
Citing anecdotal evidence from small businesses in his home state, Baucus asked Sebelius for specifics about how it is measuring public understanding of the law.
"You need data. Do you have any data? You've never given me data. You only give me concepts, frankly," he said.
Sebelius said in response that the administration is not independently monitoring public awareness of specific provisions but will be embarking on an education campaign beginning this summer.
Baucus is facing a competitive reelection fight next year, and Republicans are sure to attack him over his role as the primary author of the healthcare law.
Democrat Baucus warns: More to come out on IRS scandal
May 17, 2013 | 10:34 am
Senior Democratic Sen. Max Baucus, who recently slapped Obamacare as a "train wreck," believes that the IRS scandal is just beginning and that "a lot more" damaging information will be revealed, likely at congressional hearings.
"I have a hunch that a lot more is going to come out, frankly," Baucus, whose pending retirement seems to have freed him up to speak bluntly, told Bloomberg Government's "Capitol Gains" TV show.
"It's broader than the current focus. And I think it's important that we have the hearings, and I think that will encourage other information to come out that has not yet come out. I suspect that we will learn more in the next several days, maybe the next couple three weeks which adds more context to all of this," added Baucus, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.
Max Baucus is the Vice Chairman on this committee. Jay Rockefeller is also a ranking Democrat Senator on this committee
Quoted Text
Statutory Basis for the Joint Committee On Taxation
The Joint Committee is established under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.1 The Joint Committee formally consists of ten Members of Congress: five from the Senate Committee on Finance (there are three from the majority and two from the minority); and five Members from the House Committee on Ways and Means (also three from majority and two from the minority).
The statutorily prescribed duties of the Joint Committee are:
To investigate the operation and effects of internal revenue taxes and the administration of such taxes; To investigate measures and methods for the simplification of such taxes; To make reports to the House Committee on Ways and Means and the Senate Committee on Finance (or to the House and the Senate) on the results of such investigations and studies and to make recommendations;2 and To review any proposed refund or credit of income or estate and gift taxes or certain other taxes set forth in Code section 6405 in excess of $2,000,000.3 Under Internal Revenue Code section 8021, the Joint Committee is empowered to:
Obtain and inspect tax returns and return information (as specified in sec. 6103(f)); Hold hearings, require attendance of witnesses and production of books, administer oaths, and take testimony; Procure printing and binding; Make necessary expenditures. In addition, section 8023 authorizes the Joint Committee (or the Chief of Staff), upon approval of the Chairman or Vice-Chairman, to secure tax returns, tax return information or data directly from the IRS or any other executive agency for the purpose of making investigations, reports, and studies relating to internal revenue tax matters, including investigations of the IRS's administration of the tax laws. In addition to these functions that are specified in the Internal Revenue Code, the Congressional Budget Act of 19744 requires the Joint Committee to provide revenue estimates for all tax legislation considered by either the House or the Senate. Such estimates are the official Congressional estimates for reported tax legislation.5
‘Obamacare’ creator Sen. Jay Rockefeller now says law ‘beyond comprehension’ By Cheryl K. Chumley-The Washington Times Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Democratic Sen. Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, a leading force in the creation of President Obama’s health care law, now says the health reform is at risk of falling under its own regulatory weight and that it’s becoming too complicated to properly implement.
“[The law] is so complicated and if it isn’t done right the first time, it will just simply get worse,” he said, as reported by the Washington Examiner.
His statements came in context of criticizing managers of the program, including the acting Medicare director, for their sluggish policy implementation, the Washington Examiner said. If the system isn’t quickly built — and properly constructed — the foundation would crumble and confusion over how to implement it would get worse, the West Virginian said.
“I believe that the Affordable Care Act is probably the most complex piece of legislation ever passed by the United States Congress,” he said, as quoted in the Washington Examiner. “Tax reform obviously has been huge, too, but up to this point it is just beyond comprehension.”
Democratic Sen. Jay Rockefeller won't run for re-election
Posted by CNN Political Unit January 11, 2013 (CNN) - Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV, the five-term Democrat from West Virginia, opening up a potential seat for Republicans to grab in the next round of Congressional contests.
"As I approach 50 years of public service in West Virginia, I've decided that 2014 will be the right moment for me to find new ways to fight for the causes I believe in and to spend more time with my incredible family," Rockefeller said in a statement.
"Championing those most in need has been my life's calling, and I will never stop fighting to make a difference for the people who mean so much to me," he continued.
Baucus, Powerful Montana Democrat, Will Leave Senate April 23, 2013
WASHINGTON — Under friendly fire in the Capitol and squeezed politically at home, Senator Max Baucus of Montana, the powerful chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and a man often at odds with fellow Democrats, announced Tuesday that he would retire in 2014 after four decades in Congress. Multimedia
The decision by Mr. Baucus, 71, to forgo a seventh term brings to six the number of Senate Democrats who will not seek re-election next year, including many of the party’s most popular and venerable senators. Mr. Baucus, though, was known for frustrating Democratic leaders by opposing major party initiatives as well as his solo attempts to cut deals with Republicans. Leadership efforts to go around Mr. Baucus may have contributed to his determination that it was time to exit the Senate, although he firmly denied that in an interview.
Looks to me Rockefeller and Baucus left Obama with a little parting gift before they leave office. All that arm twisting Obama did to get Obamacare passed, they returned the favor with a little Chicago style politics of their own.
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