This week Representative Mike Fitzpatrick took the time to address the many shortfalls that he believes exist within Obamacare. He did this on the House Floor, highlighting not only the technical difficulties that many have encountered on the Obamacare website, but also the flaws that exist within the policy itself. To do this, he gave a quick anecdote about a family in his home district. While they were indeed allowed to keep their current healthcare plan, it now became too expensive and un-affordable for them. (Fitzpatrick's Address). In the words of the affected citizen himself: "The President guaranteed me, 'If you like your plan you can keep it'. Well the fact is, I can keep my plan, I just can't afford my plan now..." (http://fitzpatrick.house.gov/)
Fitzpatrick's solution to this is, not surprisingly, another bipartisan bill that would address the problem. called the Keep Your Health Plan Act, this bill "allows plans on the individual market this year to continue to be offered and would allow all Americans to enroll in those plans without penalty.(http://fitzpatrick.house.gov/) The bill was passed by a margin of 261-157 in the House, which raises the question of how "bipartisan" it really is. As it turns out, only 39 Democrats voted in favor of it. (http://www.npr.org/)
Clearly, the perception of this bill and its intent is highly variant across party lines. Democrats see it as an effort to undercut the influence of Obamacare. Republicans, however, see it as a means of controlling the unintended damage caused by Obamacare (i.e., Fitzpatrick's example of the man who now must be three times as much for the same plan). With such little Democratic support in the House, it's hard to believe the bill will see much success in the Senate.
As Fitzpatrick has done throughout the semester, he successfully manages to balance the personal interests of his constituents with the larger national and party goals. Fitzpatrick defends his support for the bill by claiming to protect the interests of his constituents. Meanwhile, providing a personal example such as the one he gives strengthens the case being made for the bill in Washington by providing a real example of how Obamacare is hurting everyday Americans. Whether that is enough for the bill to make a successful run through the Senate remains to be seen.
Sources:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INK386L49Qk&feature=youtu.be
http://fitzpatrick.house.gov/press-release/fitzpatrick-house-pass-‘keep-your-health-plan-act’
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/11/15/245399761/house-poised-to-vote-on-keep-your-health-plan-act
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