Republicans and Democrats are coming together to discuss the possibility of exempting themselves from Obamacare insurance exchanges, Politico reports.
The confidential talks include House Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.).
If Capitol Hill leaders move forward with the plan, they risk being dubbed hypocrites by their political rivals and the American public. By removing themselves from a key Obamacare component, lawmakers and aides would be held to a different standard than the people who put them in office.
Congressmen are concerned the federal government may not continue to subsidize the health insurance premiums of congressmen and their aides. If it does not, aides and lawmakers could see their premiums rise by thousands of dollars.
The developing narrative is potentially brutal for congressional Democrats and the White House. The health care law, controversial since it was passed in 2010, has been a target of the right and, increasingly, the left.
Not all lawmakers are on board with the exemption. Rep. Henry Waxman (D., Calif.), a major proponent of Obamacare, says there is no reason for the concern. He said subsidies will continue and there will be no increased costs.
Sen. Richard Burr (R., N.C.) is opposed to Obamacare but believes lawmakers and their aides should abide by the same guidelines as their constituents.
"I have no problems with Congress being under the same guidelines," Burr told Politico. "I think if this is going to be a disaster—which I think it’s going to be—we ought to enjoy it together with our constituents."