Senators seek to force Congress, political appointees out of FEHBP

Four Republican senators have joined forces to push a proposal that would require high-level federal officials, including members of Congress and Obama administration political appointees, to leave the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and join a new public option health system if Congress creates one.

Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Richard Burr of North Carolina and David Vitter of Louisiana introduced the measure Monday as an amendment to health care legislation pending in the Senate.

"Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all federal officers shall be enrolled in the community health insurance option when established," the amendment states. Federal officers are defined in the provision as the president, vice president, political appointees, members of Congress and congressional staffers.

"The president, members of Congress and others in our government can demonstrate leadership and confidence in the public option by enrolling themselves in the program," Coburn said. "While I oppose the public option, Republicans and Democrats can agree that we should live under the laws we pass. I can also think of no better way to ensure that the public option is responsive to our citizens than by having the politicians in charge of the system enrolled in the same program."

Grassley earlier had sought to end FEHBP entirely and shift all federal employees, along with members of Congress and their staffs, to state-based health exchanges. That proposal was modified at the committee level in late September so it applied only to senators, House members and their staffs.

Along with the group of Republicans, several Democrats have sought to sign on as co-sponsors of the more recent amendment.

"I'm proud of the public option," Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, told The Hill Friday. "I think it would be great and we ought to join it and show the country how good it is."