Lawmakers Press HHS for Information on Controversial Obamacare Waivers
Rob Bluey /
Wondering how all those businesses in House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s district ended up with Obamacare waivers? The story drew national attention last month, but there’s still little known about the process used by the Obama administration to grant the controversial waivers.
That’s prompted more than 30 members of Congress to write Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius seeking “transparency, fairness, and due process” for the department’s waiver decisions. Heritage’s Ed Haislmaier testified in March that “HHS has exceeded its statutory authority in creating this waiver process.” In fact, HHS apparently developed the waiver rules on its own using a broad interpretation of the law.
“The process by which waivers are approved and denied remains largely unknown,” said Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-KS), who wrote the letter signed by 31 colleagues. “We are hoping Secretary Sebelius will shine some sunshine on the waiver process, making it known how businesses and labor unions are chosen or denied exemptions.”