Senator Jeff Sessions doesn’t seem to think so and he headed the Senate committee dealing with it.
One of the two analysis we excerpt here is from the Washington Post, which is not our primary source for journalistic truth-telling. Nevertheless, because it chronicles other responses to Rubio’s claim with the intent of giving credit, (or in their mind-set — blame) where it is due, we think it credibly challenges Rubio’s braggadocio. We also excerpt Breitbart which analyzed other reports about the substance of Rubio’s claims.
From Glen Kessler at the Washington Post Rubio’s inaccurate claim that he ‘inserted’ a provision restricting Obamacare ‘bailout’ funds
This is a story about a media narrative, abetted by a presidential campaign, that has unfairly misdirected the credit for one of the most important blows against the Affordable Care Act. . . .
In reality, in the sausage making of the law, Rubio didn’t make the sausage that has wounded the law. He had wanted to make a different sausage. But through deft marketing, he managed to slap his name on this one. . . .
At issue is something called “risk corridors” — a provision of the massive law that was intended to protect insurance companies from losses if they did not properly estimate premiums in the initial three years of the law. Companies that estimated correctly — and had what were deemed as excess profits — would pay fees to help underwrite at least some of the cost of helping the insurance companies that had stumbled.
While some health-care experts say risk corridors are an important feature to smooth out the transition to the new law, Republicans opposed such payments as a bailout for poorly run insurance companies — or ones that deliberately underpriced their products, knowing they would get government funds. Rubio in 2013 introduced a bill to eliminate the provision, but like other Obamacare repeal efforts, his proposal went nowhere. . . .
Success always has many fathers, but Rubio goes way too far in claiming credit here. He raised initial concerns about the risk-corridor provision, but the winning legislative strategy was executed by other lawmakers. He certainly had a more central role in the immigration bill from which he has distanced himself — which may be a reason he is trying to elevate his role in this case.
We wavered between Three and Four Pinocchios, but Rubio’s claim that he was responsible for inserting the provision tipped us to Four. He needs to adjust his rhetoric to acknowledge that the key plays were made by other Republicans — and the news media should not so credulously accept his claim.
From Breitbart: AP FACT CHECK: Rubio’s Single-Handed ‘Obamacare’ Win Questioned
But according to interviews and documents, the strategy and legal case for the spending restriction were developed over months of work involving the staffs of Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL)80%, R-Ala., and Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI)40%, R-Mich. Upton is chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee. At the time, Sessions was the ranking Republican on the Senate Budget Committee.
They teamed up with former Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga., who chaired a panel that oversees spending on health care programs.
Asked by The Associated Press who was responsible for the spending restriction, Sessions released a statement crediting his staff, along with the offices of Upton and Kingston. It pointedly omitted Rubio
The recently passed omnibus appropriations bill contained provisions that eliminated so called risk corridor protections (bail out provisions) benefiting insurance companies that Rubio railed against (but was no more responsible for eliminating than any other Republican who voted against them). But he would not rearrange his campaign schedule to show up and vote. Senator Sessions, who was the person most responsible in the Senate for stopping the insurance company bail outs voted against the omnibus bill because Republicans should be doing everything in their power to stop the Obamanation at every turn. Read more about “showing up” to be counted in this Real Clear politics article:
Marco Rubio: I Didn´t Show Up To Vote Against “Garbage” Omnibus Spending Bill Because “The Outcome Was Predetermined”
GOP presidential candidate Marco Rubio goes ´On the Record´ with FNC´s Greta Van Susteren. Greta challenges him for missing the vote last week on the budget omnibus spending bill, Rubio explains that because of President Obama´s “pet projects,” the bill was “garbage,” and a waste of time. He also touches on ISIS and immigration issues.
A 1.1 trillion dollar appropriations bill and Rubio would not be troubled to exhibit his legislative duties. Perhaps we should just have Congress phone in their votes. But then would someone like Rubio take a stand on the omnibus or change the subject like Carly Fiorina?
Our illustrious senior editor, who at the time this was posted was either recovering from Winter Solstice festivities or prepping for Christmas Eve (the theory is in these dicey times it is good to work both sides of the street, so to speak, on the celebration thing) adds:
Seems to me to be a mistake for any GOP senators or congressmen to want to take credit for eliminating the “risk corridors” which eliminates the insurance company bailouts.
As with virtually every other part of the “OmniCrap” sandwich Ryan and McC gave the American people, the only reason the Democrats allowed it in the bill was because it was to their strategic advantage. The risk bailout was certainly one of Obamacare’s many, many fundamental flaws, but eliminating it without also insuring steps to rescind all of O’care only hastens and assures the left’s strategic goals of single payer health insurance (more accurately termed “socialized medicine” or “national healthcare”). With their bailout gone, the rest of the health insurance companies will surely fail or drop out of participation. Thus, the left’s “solution” will become the Democrat’s “rescue plan”… government will have to step in and save health care for all! You sure you want to take credit for that, Marco? It really belongs to “The Bearded One” and “Mumbles” McConnell.
R Mall and DLH
