Spending Bill Includes Pay Raises For House Members And Lets Them Opt Out Of Using Obamacare Exchange

Punchbowl News reports:

Two provisions that directly impact lawmakers were quietly added to the CR: a pay raise and an Obamacare opt-out. It’s complicated, but Congress has proactively blocked lawmakers from getting a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) since 2009. This was done by including language in spending bills specifically preventing such pay increases, although other federal employees get them.

However, the new CR includes a provision (page 15) that amends language in a previous CR. Also tucked into the CR is a provision allowing lawmakers to opt out of Obamacare and instead use the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. Lawmakers are required to use an Obamacare exchange instead of the FEHBP. A couple of Republicans have been trying to overturn this for years to no avail.

Read the full article. Punchbowl notes that Democrats were unaware of either provision until today.

ICYMI – last night Congress passed a short term CR to keep the government open. Also in the CR—a pay raise, plus an Obamacare opt-out.

This is interesting …

Punchbowl News: Some key Democrats were unaware of this language until after the final CR text was released Tuesday… pic.twitter.com/1yqbt26snS

— Christopher Webb (@cwebbonline) December 18, 2024