Networks All Label Sebelius’ Oversight Of ACA “Rocky”
President Obama made official today (April 11)
what had leaked last night, that Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has resigned
her position now that the first enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act
(Obamacare) has come to a close. The news leaked just as the national broadcast
networks were going to air last night, so they were able to run only short pieces,
with ABC World News reporting “she led the rocky introduction of Obamacare”;
the CBS Evening News saying she “has been under fire over the rocky roll-out”;
and NBC Nightly News reporting she is leaving “after five years on the job and
following the rocky roll-out of President Obama’s healthcare law.” In making
the resignation announcement at a White House ceremony, the President also said
he is nominating OMB Director Sylvia Mathews Burwell to replace Sebelius at
HHS.
Referring to
the 7.5 million people the White House claims have signed up for Obamacare, the
President pointedly said in today’s remarks that “the final score speaks for
itself.” Media analysts from both sides of the aisle, however, made it clear
the President’s “final score” phrase was likely wishful thinking. What is more
likely is that the confirmation process for Burwell will be a venue for critics
of Obamacare to re-engage in the battle over the law, demanding more data from
HHS than has been heretofore made available to Congress. Senate Minority Leader
Mitch McConnell (R) previewed what’s ahead in today’s Wall
Street Journal,
saying, “Regardless of the Administration’s public explanation for the
secretary’s exit, Obamacare has been a rolling disaster and her resignation is
cold comfort to the millions of Americans who were deceived about what it would
mean for them and their families.”
What This Means For Small Business:
When the Senate confirmation process for
Sylvia Mathews Burwell begins, the Affordable Care Act may be litigated anew.
Senate supporters and opponents of the law will likely invite affected parties
to provide the Senate with the benefit of their experiences with the Affordable
Care Act. Both sides will be keeping one eye on this November’s
elections, which could produce a new Congress with substantially different
views on Obamacare than the current Congress.
Further Reading:
Reuters, USA Today, the New York
Times, the Washington
Post, the Wall
Street Journal,
the Los
Angeles Times,
the Washington
Times, Vox, Bloomberg
News, and The Hill provide coverage of the Sebelius
resignation. The New York
Times, the Wall
Street Journal,
and Politico cover the Burwell nomination. Wall
Street Journal
and New York
Times
columnists provide their take on the news as well.
This news article is intended to keep small business owners apprised of current events that may affect them. It does not necessarily reflect NFIB’s policy position on such issues.
