{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=360071", "Congressman Griffith's Weekly E-Newsletter 11.1.13", "2013-11-01", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Morgan Griffith", "G000568", "morgangriffith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "This Week in Washington: Coal and Obamacare \nObamacare\nHealth and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Wednesday, October 30 testified before my colleagues and me on the Energy and Commerce Committee on the rollout of the health care law.\u00a0 Even after her testimony, more questions remain. \nHowever, what Secretary Sebelius made clear to me was that she doesn\u2019t want to join the exchanges and live under Obamacare like the rest of the American people.\nI am supportive of a proposal which would require the President and his political appointees, including Secretary Sebelius, to live under Obamacare like Members of Congress and tens of millions of other Americans.\u00a0 In my view, the President and his cabinet secretaries ought to also be in the marketplace or Obamacare exchanges after January 1.\u00a0 In recent negotiations, a proposal similar to this was being discussed in the halls of Congress, but President Obama threatened to veto the proposal. \nHmmmmm.\u00a0 President Obama would veto a bill that would make him and his family live under Obamacare.\u00a0 It\u2019s good for us, but not good for him!\u00a0 Well isn\u2019t that special.\nCongressman Cory Gardner (R-CO), whose family\u2019s individual health care plan has been cancelled, pushed Secretary Sebelius on why she \u2013 the architect of the health care law\u2019s implementation \u2013 is not signing up for health care coverage through the law\u2019s exchanges.\u00a0 Secretary Sebelius, who is offered coverage by her employer as part of the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan, replied, \u201cIf I have affordable coverage in my workplace, I'm not eligible to go into the marketplace. ... It\u2019s illegal.\u201d \nReally?\u00a0 Let\u2019s see what Washington and Lee University of Law Professor Tim Jost had to say.\u00a0 He told the Washington Post on October 30 that \u201cShe could purchase a plan on an exchange since she is lawfully present in the U.S. and not incarcerated,\u201d however \"She could not get premium tax credits both because she has employer coverage and because she is Medicare eligible.\u201d\nCongressman Billy Long (R-MO) also pushed Secretary Sebelius on this issue.\u00a0 He asked, \u201cCan you tell the American public \u2013 if your advisors behind you happen to have given you wrong information - if it is possible for you to go into the exchange like all these millions of Americans that are going into the exchanges, will you commit to forego your government insurance plan that you\u2019re on now and join us in the pool?\u201d\u00a0 Secretary Sebelius essentially dodged the question, saying she \u201cwill take a look at it.\u201d\nAgain I ask, \u201cIf Obamacare is good for the goose, why is it not good for the gander?\u201d\u00a0 President Obama, Secretary Sebelius, and other cabinet secretaries ought to join the federal marketplace so that they too are living under the health care law that they designed and now have the duty to implement and make work.\nCoal\nOn Tuesday, October 29, I was proud to participate in the Stand Up for American Energy Jobs Rally sponsored by the National Mining Association, and join the thousands of coal miners, energy workers, and friends of coal who brought the fight for jobs and affordable energy to Washington.\u00a0 It was wonderful to see folks from coalfields across America, particularly those from Virginia, who traveled to our nation\u2019s capital to support this fight.\nI hope that our message was heard by legislators in the House and the Senate, by Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy, and also by President Obama.\u00a0 Those who wage the war on coal and coal-related industries ought to visit Central Appalachia, and see for themselves the devastating impact their harmful policies have on coal communities in the Ninth District and across Central Appalachia.\u00a0 That and taking into consideration the cost to America\u2019s manufacturers, industries, and even household electric bills should make them understand that the future of America is not against coal, but is with coal.\u00a0 Until that time, I and other enlightened legislators in Congress will continue our fight against the war on coal.\nAs always, if you have questions, concerns, or comments, feel free to call my Abingdon office at 276-525-1405 or my Christiansburg office at 540-381-5671.\u00a0 To reach my office by email, please visit my website at www.morgangriffith.house.gov.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=360071"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8496013469994068, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}