We previously discussed the statements of Jonathan Gruber, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology economist who played a major role the ACA, or “Obamacare,” where he repeatedly endorsed the theory at the heart of the recent decisions in Halbig and King by challengers to the ACA: to wit, that the federal funding provision was a quid pro quo device to reward states with their own exchanges and to punish those that force the creation of federal exchanges. That issue will now be decided by the United States Supreme Court. Gruber caused a considerable controversy when, after he had denounced the theory as “nutty” during the arguments in Halbig and King, he was shown later to have embraced that same interpretation. Having been paid almost $400,000 as an architect of the ACA, Gruber has become a major liability in the litigation. Now Gruber is back in the news with an equally startling admission that the Obama Administration (and Gruber) succeeded in passing the ACA only by engineering a “lack of transparency” on the details and relying on “the stupidity of the American voter.”
Gruber’s remarks were made on a panel given roughly a year ago on Oct. 17, 2013. Notably, this was at the height of the tension over the ACA. While I have long supported national health care, I was critical of the sloppy drafting of the ACA, the federalism conflicts contained in the individual mandate provision, and the unsupportable claims made by the White House in selling the Act. The last concern was the subject of Gruber’s comments. Gruber told the crowd that the “Lack of transparency is a huge political advantage.” He also said that “basically, call it the stupidity of the American voter or whatever, but basically that was really, really critical for the thing to pass.”
Gruber also later states that New York Sen. Chuck Schumer (D.) is someone who “as far as I can tell, doesn’t understand economics” while calling a staffer for Sen. Olympia Snowe (R., Maine) an “idiot.” The later reference appears to be a reference to aide William Pewen.
The specific comments on the bill are transcribed as follows:
“This bill was written in a tortured way to make sure CBO did not score the mandate as taxes. If CBO scored the mandate as taxes, the bill dies. Okay, so it’s written to do that. In terms of risk rated subsidies, if you had a law which said that healthy people are going to pay in – you made explicit healthy people pay in and sick people get money, it would not have passed… Lack of transparency is a huge political advantage. And basically, call it the stupidity of the American voter or whatever, but basically that was really really critical for the thing to pass… Look, I wish Mark was right that we could make it all transparent, but I’d rather have this law than not.”
I was concerned that these lines were taken out of context so I watched the video below:
What is fascinating is that Gruber is open about what has long been hidden in this Administration: the lack of transparency as a tactical political vehicle. The ACA was pushed through by a muscle vote on a handful of votes while the Administration made claims that he later had to admit were misleading at best, such as the President’s repeated assurance that citizens could keep your current insurance policy if you liked it.
Gruber also admits that the Administration crafted the law to avoid it being supported by a tax despite Chief Justice John Roberts’ later decision that it was a tax. Gruber says that, while he would have preferred to be honest and open, such considerations had to be set aside in the interests of passing the law — even by less than honest means.
In a truly ironic twist, the University of Pennsylvania tried to pull back the admission on the lack of transparency by pulling the video:
It was too late. The video was out.
In fairness to Gruber, he was doing what an academic is supposed to do in honestly assessing what he believed occurred in the historic passage of the ACA. While he later sought to deny the earlier comments that he made on the state exchanges (in a less than candid moment), there is thus far no comment from him on this latest video. As in the earlier admissions, there has been little relative coverage by the mainstream media of the comments. Once again, the lack of media attention is surprising given the importance of Gruber to the ACA and the Administration.
UPDATE: Gruber went on MSNBC to say that his comments were “inappropriate” while the host insisted that his comments were misunderstood as “nuanced” observations.
“Obama lied, people died.”
I can tell I’m hitting nerves when SWM hits below the belt w/ a recipe comment. It’s like shooting fish in a barrel sometimes. Let’s get back to the topic. You and you’re other buddy have said NOTHING about the subject of this post.
“Obamacare Architect States That The Law Was Only Passed Due To “The Lack of Transparency” and The “Stupidity of the American Voter””
Just how stupid? Enough to completely ignore the point of the thread and demonstrate ONCE AGAIN, you deserve the government you get!
It is absolutely unacceptable to have a government that will lie to the people regardless of the supposed “benefits”. This is a severe breach of trust and abuse of power; it is not limited to any particular political party. If you cannot denounce this administration for something this egregious , then you have ZERO credibility on anything.
Here’s one area of Medicare that needs reform – doctors ordering unnecessary drug tests to make extra money. Tests for angel dust and PCP for seniors is skyrocketing, even though their use is extremely rare. It’s a method to pad the bill.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/11/11/doctors-testing-seniors-for-cocaine-other-drugs-and-medicare-pays-bill/
My mother has been covered by Medicare and a supplemental insurance plan for over thirty years. She hasn’t experienced any problems. My husband and I haven’t had any problems either–and we’ve been covered by Medicare and a supplemental plan for three years.
“LOL!!! Grammar school has convened.”nick More intelligent and wiser than your crew….. Recipes are better, too. 🙂
http://www.addictinginfo.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/003.jpg
http://inthesetimes.com/article/15732/the_tea_partys_misconception_of_medicare
Why the Tea Party loves Medicare, but hates Obamacare..
Robert Reich is a cultist.
LOL!!! Grammar school has convened.
Annie, You do need to read the plans before you sign up or at least consult with someone knowledgeable. Must be out of their reach as they seems to be victimized by medicare or whatever government plan they subscribe too.
The irony of Republican disapproval of Obamacare
The Democrat’s version of health insurance would have been cheaper, simpler and more popular. But we enacted the Republican version. So why are they so upset? Because it an achievement for the Obama administration.
10/23/13
http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Robert-Reich/2013/1028/The-irony-of-Republican-disapproval-of-Obamacare
Dennis Byron knows more about Medicare than anyone else here. He walks the walk, helping people through the maze as a volunteer. I’ll get my info from him or a former roommate who is about to retire from working for the social security administration. He is a hardcore Dem. He has incredible stories of how Obama has opened the flood gates for SS disability. Those claims have taken over almost all employees time @ the Camden office where he works.
walk, helping people through the maze as a volunteer. I’ll get my info from him or a former roommate who is about to retire from working for the social security administration. He is a hardcore Dem. He has incredible stories of how Obama has opened the flood gates for SS disability. Those claims have taken over almost all employees time @ the Camden office where he works.
Just saw program yesterday from BarJournal. is info program. They talk about how the ssd system has a backlog of hundred thousand plus. This has happened because they cut personnel so not enough to handle the claims. Prez Obama has nothing to do with it, wanna blame, blame the repubs for their sequestration which they said would be a poison pill and never be made law.
There is no proof more folks get accepted. As always it has been about 65% denied the first time to help get rid of scammers but people who do reapply can wait one to two years before their appeal is even heard. I will take unbiased administrative judge who heard the cases until he recently retired.
The lawyers and judge all agree the system is broken but it is because they do not have the personnel.
Sorry, my parents were Republicans and they too loved Medicare. Assertions all the day long, no real information about real people. Tea Party protestors love their Medicare also.
Thank you Karen!
Yep, And my friend that had her cancer treated at Mayo for a hundred dollars loves it too.
In honor of Veteran’s Day, I want to offer my heartfelt thanks to all those men and women in uniform who serve, as well as their families, who suffer through long absences, missing and worrying about their loved ones on deployment.
They put themselves between us and danger, and for that, I am very grateful, and honor their sacrifices.
We non Dems will stipulate that all you Dems absolutely LOVE Medicare. You love it so much “You want to take it behind the bleachers and get it pregnant,” We get it. All your family love govt. medicine, all your friends love it, the woman you met in the grocery store just his morning loves her govt. medicine. We stipulate to ALL anecdotal quotes of people loving govt. medicine. When it is stipulated to there is NO reason to bring it up. If a new person you know tells you how much they love their govt. medicine simply say, “Previous stipulation” and it will be entered into evidence.
SWM, they expect people to be lazy and misinformed.
Annie, They either make stuff up or don’t know the facts. In any case, they don’t expect anyone to check the facts as you just did.