An Obamacare Weiner-Waiver for New York City?

By Doug Powers  •  March 23, 2011 07:35 PM

**Written by Doug Powers

Last year, New York Rep. Anthony Weiner took personal ownership of the magnificent health care law, even to the point of proclaiming “the bill and I are one” like a monk trying to attain enlightenment using nothing but willpower, outbursts and a trillion dollars of other people’s money. In short, Anthony Weiner loves the health care bill.

It’s just that… well… it might not be right for his district:

Rep. Anthony Weiner said Wednesday he was looking into how a health law waiver might work for New York City.

Weiner, who is likely to run for mayor of New York, said that because of the city’s special health care infrastructure, his office was looking into alternatives that might make more sense. Weiner is one of the health care law’s biggest supporters; during the debate leading up to reform, he was one of the last holdouts in Congress for the public option.

“The president said, ‘If you have better ideas that can accomplish the same thing, go for it,’” said Weiner. “I’m in the process now of trying to see if we can take [President Barack Obama] up on it in the city of New York, … and I’m taking a look at all of the money we spend in Medicaid and Medicare and maybe New York City can come up with a better plan.”
[...]
“We in New York already have hospitals, we already employ doctors and we employ nurses. We have a lot of uninsured people. … [Setting up] the exchanges is the one piece of the puzzle that would be difficult for us to do,” he said. “I’m just looking internally to whether the city can save money and have more control over its own destiny.”

I thought the health care law was the mechanism that would save state and local governments as well as businesses money. It turns out that’s what the waivers are for and not the law itself. Gee, it’s almost as if they were lying about all this from the very beginning.

It’s possible Weiner believes he’ll have trouble being elected Mayor of NYC unless he can successfully disconnect them from the health care law that is his pride and joy — a fact that should give voters there all the more reason to question his judgment.

**Written by Doug Powers

Twitter @ThePowersThatBe

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Comments


  1. #1
    On March 23rd, 2011 at 7:42 pm, T-Bone said:

    Better ways to accomplish the same thing. Right.

    I wish I was a New York City Weiner
    Thats is what I’d truly like to be
    Cause if I was a New York City Weiner
    Everyone would waive the law for me.

  2. #2
    On March 23rd, 2011 at 7:46 pm, Virginia Patriot said:

    Equal protection under some laws?

  3. #3
    On March 23rd, 2011 at 7:52 pm, OK_Loyalist said:

    Any bets Ilovemycountry wiggles his ears for Weiner ?

  4. #4
    On March 23rd, 2011 at 7:56 pm, txvet2 said:

    No surprise. Like most legislation the left passes, it’s only intended to apply to somebody else.

  5. #5
    On March 23rd, 2011 at 8:03 pm, spaceycakes said:

    but I thought all of those world-weary poseurs in nyc loved the bill?

  6. #6
    On March 23rd, 2011 at 8:05 pm, letget said:

    I will call Governor Perry to see if we can get the waiver here. What are the chances in a red state? ZERO.
    L

  7. #7
    On March 23rd, 2011 at 8:10 pm, TooMuchTime said:

    …even to the point of proclaiming “the bill and I are one…”

    “I’m just looking internally to whether the city can save money and have more control over its own destiny.”

    Would someone, anyone, in the press call this scum out and make him give a direct answer on why he supported the bill but now wants a waiver for it?

    Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

  8. #8
    On March 23rd, 2011 at 8:10 pm, prendad said:

    Maybe Al Franken should distribute a copy of his book to all of his comrades in Congress: Lies (And the Lying Liars Who Tell Them): A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right LEFT.

  9. #9
    On March 23rd, 2011 at 8:14 pm, T-Bone said:

    The administration needs to make this argument more forcefully,” he said. “A lot of people who got waivers were … people who are our friends.”

    This is what Weiner said to the group he was talking to about waivers. Selling political favors. These guys are corrupt to the core.

    Buy gold Weiner.

  10. #10
    On March 23rd, 2011 at 8:14 pm, Massasoit said:

    Ouch. This Weiner is stuck on both sides of the fence.

    ‘I’m against it because I found a way to be for it AND against it and still look like I’m for it.’

  11. #11
    On March 23rd, 2011 at 8:16 pm, BeachBum said:

    “We in New York already have hospitals, we already employ doctors and we employ nurses.”

    Yep, you’re right Weiner, we here rubes in Florida don’t have those new fangled thangs called hospitals and our medicine man only comes by our settlement ’bout once a month. Sooo, ya, we don’t get no stinkin waiver. What a load of BS.

  12. #12
    On March 23rd, 2011 at 8:22 pm, Hangfire said:

    Uhh…Aren’t Weiner waivers supposed to register, by law?

  13. #13
    On March 23rd, 2011 at 8:23 pm, prendad said:

    I think I knew Weiner in high school but I can’t remember his face because it was always stuck in the toilet with two guys plunging him up and down and yelling something like “neiner, neiner, we got a weiner”. Maybe that’s how he developed the personality of a dung beatle.

  14. #14
    On March 23rd, 2011 at 8:23 pm, buzdburd said:

    I find that Weiner’s smarmy, elitist attitude make him the Left’s poster boy and the perfect ideologue in the Chuck U. Schumer mold. I hope that they are found in a love-tryst w/ each other before the next election.

  15. #15
    On March 23rd, 2011 at 8:27 pm, tre said:

    Gee, it seems everyone who just LUUUUVED ObummerCare before are tryin’ to get out of it.
    So SanFranNan, it seems THEY know what’s in the Bill, and they don’t like it. So can we get rid of it now?

  16. #16
    On March 23rd, 2011 at 8:29 pm, tre said:

    On March 23rd, 2011 at 8:23 pm, prendad said:

    Those guys could have saved us all a lot of trouble if they’d let him go after flushing the toilet.

  17. #17
    On March 23rd, 2011 at 8:55 pm, Virginia Patriot said:

    On March 23rd, 2011 at 8:22 pm, Hangfire said:
    Uhh…Aren’t Weiner waivers supposed to register, by law?

    No, that would be weiner wavers

  18. #18
    On March 23rd, 2011 at 8:56 pm, Pasadena Phil said:

    Will someone please light a flame under Boehner’s butt please?!?!?! Just defund the damn bill already!

  19. #19
    On March 23rd, 2011 at 8:57 pm, dtb said:

    He’s just one of many reasons why those of us in Western NY want to rid ourselves of NYC.

  20. #20
    On March 23rd, 2011 at 9:04 pm, OK_Loyalist said:

    On March 23rd, 2011 at 8:56 pm, Pasadena Phil said:

    Will someone please light a flame under Boehner’s butt please?!?!?! Just defund the damn bill already!

    That clock is ticking away. He pulls the CR crap again and I think he may need a pitchfork in the @ss to make him understand how and why he came to power.

  21. #21
    On March 23rd, 2011 at 9:04 pm, paulie said:

    The height of hipocrosy

  22. #22
    On March 23rd, 2011 at 9:10 pm, AmericaFirst said:

    Sounds like Tone-E Weiner is spinning a new soundtrack on his DJ mix table. I heard he plays to the NYC bed bugs and pubic crabs that love his digital soundboard scratching.

    His district looks like how a gangsta with street credentials would hold a hand gun.

    Put your handguns up in the air. Put your handguns up in the air.

    According to Google Maps, his district includes Exxon Forest Park. No information available anywhere on Google. Exxon, huh? NYC’s dirty secret. Oh and his district covers a bunch of crustaceans and cement shoe constituents.

  23. #23
    On March 23rd, 2011 at 9:13 pm, Darthnoob said:

    Keeping the legacy of Alan Grayson alive.

    Who is Barry Soetoro
    (I put this in my facebook posts too.)

  24. #24
    On March 23rd, 2011 at 9:19 pm, Truesoldier said:

    It would seem like this is prime material for a GOP commercial to be aired nationwide….of course it wont happen as the GOP would rather spend campaign money on campaigns like Scozaffava.

  25. #25
    On March 23rd, 2011 at 9:25 pm, Pasadena Phil said:

    Everybody quiet! Michelle is on Hannity right now! Shhhhhh!

  26. #26
    On March 23rd, 2011 at 9:34 pm, BK said:

    So why aren’t we calling this Weinercare instead of Obamacare?

    Oh wait, that sounds perverted, nevermind :)

  27. #27
    On March 23rd, 2011 at 9:53 pm, Green eyed Lady said:

    Isn’t it perfect that this little worm has a name like Weiner?

    Just saw Michelle on Hannity, she looked beautiful, and as always, hit all her targets. The woman is awesome.

  28. #28
    On March 23rd, 2011 at 10:03 pm, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

    On March 23, 2011 at 04:52 pm, OK_Loyalist said:

    Any bets Ilovemycountry wiggles his ears for Weiner ?

    Dunka Dude. :)
    Now-does Weiner wiggle?

  29. #29
    On March 23rd, 2011 at 10:03 pm, T-Bone said:

    He’s in. He’s out. He’s in, He’s out. He will find the back door if he can. It must be hard for him but somehow he keeps it up.

    Its just natural for his kind.

  30. #30
    On March 23rd, 2011 at 10:19 pm, bodfish said:

    I’ve only seen Weiner on TV. He seems a true believer of the very left. Glib tongue. He just lacks the looks and charisma to go very far beyond his current niche. A year ago I saw Schumer give a Commencement Speech. A perfected politician, a natural on the order of Bubba Clinton. What either believes in? So very flexible. Now then, the also mentioned Grayson? Fortunately a one-timer but seriously flawed emotionally. Seems to have lost his grip. A dirty campaign nonpareil.

    Weiner, like so many of his party, was for it until he was against it… or, like boss Obama, against it before he was for it. “It” can be most anything. Flexible, thy name is liberal Democrat.

    Great posts: T-Bone, #1; and Virginia Patriot, #17. Hilarious.

  31. #31
    On March 23rd, 2011 at 10:30 pm, right_on said:

    Congressman Anthony Dick….

  32. #32
    On March 23rd, 2011 at 10:32 pm, right_on said:

    So why aren’t we calling this Weinercare instead of Obamacare?

    Interchangable titles…they both do the same thing to taxpayers, only Weinercare is the most correct, and descriptive.

  33. #33
    On March 23rd, 2011 at 10:39 pm, Virginia Patriot said:
  34. #34
    On March 23rd, 2011 at 10:42 pm, OK_Loyalist said:

    On March 23rd, 2011 at 10:39 pm, Virginia Patriot said:

    YES WE CAIN!

    Beautiful !!!!

  35. #35
    On March 23rd, 2011 at 11:15 pm, ShoreDor said:

    Would someone, anyone, in the press call this scum out and make him give a direct answer on why he supported the bill but now wants a waiver for it?

    Hope Megyn Kelly does it. Nah, he’s ascared of her from the last time.

    That WOULD be sweet, though!

  36. #36
    On March 23rd, 2011 at 11:44 pm, mattm said:

    It’s possible Weiner believes he’ll have trouble being elected Mayor of NYC unless he can successfully disconnect them from the health care law that is his pride and joy — a fact that should give voters there all the more reason to question his judgment.

    In a normal world whit adults, yes. When you have children running the government handing out benefits to other children…

  37. #37
    On March 24th, 2011 at 12:16 am, Flyoverman said:

    Weiner reminds us that while eagles soar, weasels don’t get sucked into jet intakes.

  38. #38
    On March 24th, 2011 at 12:33 am, buzdburd said:

    Saw the Weiner on Megan Kelly’s show a week or two ago. She had his “chestnuts” roasting on an open fire!

  39. #39
    On March 24th, 2011 at 1:31 am, cabrerski said:

    Ms Kelly crushed Weiner, leaving his arguments limp and impotent.

  40. #40
    On March 24th, 2011 at 3:31 am, AlohaGuy said:

    Pasadena Phil said:

    Will someone please light a flame under Boehner’s butt please?!?!?! Just defund the damn bill already!

    Seriously.

  41. #41
    On March 24th, 2011 at 7:12 am, BobStevenson said:

    On March 23rd, 2011 at 8:57 pm, dtb said:
    He’s just one of many reasons why those of us in Western NY want to rid ourselves of NYC.

    Where in WNY? I grew up in Niagara County but have lived in KY for 28 years

  42. #42
    On March 24th, 2011 at 7:32 am, Darthnoob said:

    On March 23rd, 2011 at 10:39 pm, Virginia Patriot said:
    YES WE CAIN!

    VP you’re a poet. Can I use that one too?

  43. #43
    On March 24th, 2011 at 7:57 am, Virginia Patriot said:

    Absolutely

  44. #44
    On March 24th, 2011 at 8:11 am, Cogs said:

    Just another Totalitarian Progressive.

  45. #45
    On March 24th, 2011 at 8:27 am, ramblingman said:

    On March 23rd, 2011 at 8:55 pm, Virginia Patriot said:

    On March 23rd, 2011 at 8:22 pm, Hangfire said:
    Uhh…Aren’t Weiner waivers supposed to register, by law?

    No, that would be weiner wavers

    Classic

  46. #46
    On March 24th, 2011 at 8:27 am, Captain Blasto said:

    On March 23rd, 2011 at 8:56 pm, Pasadena Phil said:
    Will someone please light a flame under Boehner’s butt please?!?!?! Just defund the damn bill already!

    The people that just couldn’t vote for McCain and gave us the great pretender showed us the way.

    If he doesn’t get it done very soon, I will support a third party. Yes, we will probably not win but neither will the R’s. I am tired of being taken for granted.

    They said defunding O’care was job number one. And then passed the CR. One more time is all they get.

    I would rather have a D here in America’s first Congressional district than the R we have that votes just like a D. There’s no practical difference but at least no one’s lying to me any more.

  47. #47
    On March 24th, 2011 at 8:40 am, ramblingman said:

    Words absolutely fail me in my attempt to express my disgust at the actions of lefties.

    The stark hypocrisies, the regal “let them eat cake” attitudes, the complete lack of common sense, the outright lies, the incessant attacks on anyone who dares not fall in line, the evidenced “do as I say, not as I do” actions, the total lack of being held accountable by either media or constituents…

    It’s almost overwhelming. As I said, finding the words to express my frustration and anger at these lefties is becoming harder each day.

  48. #48
    On March 24th, 2011 at 8:57 am, Iowa Guy said:

    well dip him in batter and call him a corn dog. He’s already got the stick shoved so far up his ***.

  49. #49
    On March 24th, 2011 at 9:12 am, Dexter Alarius said:

    A cousin of mine saw a Weiner waiver once. She said he was tiny.

  50. #50
    On March 24th, 2011 at 9:30 am, RedDog said:

    Reasons for continued failure and disaster as long as we tolerate Democrat domination of the government:

    Business plans constructed by people with no business experience, based on irrational and illogical assumptions.

    Political and spending powers with no citizen oversight, and unrestrained by the Constitution or law.

    Failed monolithic European solutions for American problems.

    Politicians with extreme animus and no allegiance to America or her Constitution.

    Lack of respect for personal property and economic liberty.

    Irrational regulation that illegally targets business and national commerce (no other nation makes enemies of it’s citizen’s businesses).

    Lack of understanding of, or regard for, the proper role of state and federal government under the Constitution.

    A federal government with no size restrictions or budget accountability because there is no accountability at the people level.

  51. #51
    On March 24th, 2011 at 9:34 am, RedDog said:

    If this keeps up the Left will achieve its wet dream of a fractured and balkanized America. They would like to see four or five Euro-style countries. Weiner coud be president of one and name himself Lord Protector of the Realm.

  52. #52
    On March 24th, 2011 at 9:55 am, right_on said:

    Maybe it’s just me…everytime I see this congress-Ass on the television, I just want to smack that smirk off his face! Whadda punk!

    Typical of those from the far away land of Leftopia, Weiner thinks he is just so much smarter, superior, and important than anyone else, that he must convince us all by talking over any opposition, eye-rolling, smirking, and belittling.

    This water-carrier for Soros, and other socialist traitors, will get his comeuppance, hopefully sooner, rather than later. How do these evil, beast-worshipers get elected to office, and then remain there? The “dark side” has it’s ranks filled with these cowards, and this one is at the head of the crowd. They have no shame!

  53. #53
    On March 24th, 2011 at 9:56 am, Virginia Patriot said:

    (no other nation makes enemies of it’s citizen’s businesses).

    Venezuela?

  54. #54
    On March 24th, 2011 at 10:08 am, Marshall_Will said:

    right_on said:

    Weiner thinks he is just so much smarter, superior, and important than anyone else, that he must convince us all by talking over any opposition, eye-rolling, smirking, and belittling.

    And that’s before the conversation even starts. Evidently he hones those nervous-tick idiosyncrasies to fine edge on the elevator ride down?

  55. #55
    On March 24th, 2011 at 10:12 am, Marshall_Will said:

    Captain Blasto said:
    The people that just couldn’t vote for McCain and gave us the great pretender showed us the way.

    Right, throw caution to the wind. What’s the worse that could happen? When you have O’care’s poster child and Water-carrier in Chief floundering for a Waiver.., I think we’re done here.

  56. #56
    On March 24th, 2011 at 10:22 am, Virginia Patriot said:

    I was pretty sure we were done in March 2008 when McAmnesty had the nomination wrapped up. Both parties are working against the citizens.

  57. #57
    On March 24th, 2011 at 10:28 am, granite said:

    On March 24th, 2011 at 8:27 am, Captain Blasto said:

    I would rather have a D here in America’s first Congressional district than the R we have that votes just like a D. There’s no practical difference but at least no one’s lying to me any more.

    Perhaps you mean that no one would any longer be trying to deny (lying to you about) his lying to you.

  58. #58
    On March 24th, 2011 at 10:43 am, Marshall_Will said:

    Flyoverman said:
    Weiner reminds us that while eagles soar, weasels don’t get sucked into jet intakes.

    Anthony, and lay off the 5-Hour Energy/Crack-in-a-Can stuff too. Please to note MM’s Disclaimer at top: Normal, straight ( read sober ) people don’t conduct themselves this way. No one is that high-strung/wired 24/7 naturally. I’m thinking designer/prescription “combo”. How else to explain the bizarre behavior? And it is bizarre.

  59. #59
    On March 24th, 2011 at 10:46 am, Southpaw said:

    Mr. President WTF & members of Congress:
    As the last American left that is still mandated by Obamacare,
    I promise to turn the lights out when I leave.

  60. #60
    On March 24th, 2011 at 10:50 am, ramblingman said:

    OT (I have been waiting for this to show up as a topic, I am sure it will in a few minutes)

    Obama has quietly ordered a change in Miranda rights afforded to terror suspects.

    Can this man be more wrong on more subjects? First, you don’t want him setting precedent on who does and who does not deserve Miranda rights. Second, POW’s do not get Miranda rights. They are covered by completely different rules.

    Boortz said it well yesterday. If Obama was deliberately trying to destroy this country, what would he be doing differently than he’s doing now? That is something to think about.

  61. #61
    On March 24th, 2011 at 10:52 am, Dexter Alarius said:

    As the last American left that is still mandated by Obamacare…

    White male non-union Christian Conservative employed veteran over 26 years old not living in Maine.
    I think there’s at least a couple dozen of us.

  62. #62
    On March 24th, 2011 at 10:59 am, RedDog said:

    On March 24th, 2011 at 10:52 am, Dexter Alarius said:
    …I think there’s at least a couple dozen of us.

    …. Until the Marxian hoards hunt you down, crack open your bones and suck out the last juicy bits of marrow. Then they’ll turn on themselves.

  63. #63
    On March 24th, 2011 at 10:59 am, jrgdds said:

    “We in New York already have hospitals, we already employ doctors and we employ nurses. We have a lot of uninsured people.”

    As if that’s different from everywhere else in this country…

    Weiner strikes me as a Maxine Waters type without the intelligence.

  64. #64
    On March 24th, 2011 at 11:00 am, Marshall_Will said:

    Dexter Alarius said:

    I think there’s at least a couple dozen of us.

    Lol, here’s the deal! Since most you guys are fairly well rounded, you will adminster your own healthcare to -yourself-, complete your own HIPAA Compliance etc. and FINE yourselves for failure to DO so!

    ( We’ll be watching, from a distance of course ) So no funny business!

  65. #65
    On March 24th, 2011 at 11:01 am, granite said:

    On March 24th, 2011 at 10:50 am, ramblingman said:

    If Obama was deliberately trying to destroy this country, what would he be doing differently than he’s doing now?

    Answer:
    Nothing.

    Destroying (“tranforming”) our country is exactly what B.Hussein Obama’s controllers want the socialists to do.

    Hell, that’s nothing new.
    They’ve been at this for 4-5 decades, at least.

  66. #66
    On March 24th, 2011 at 11:01 am, Captain Blasto said:

    Weiner knows he’s lying about O’care.

    He knows that you know he’s lying.

    He knows that you know that he know’s he’s lying.

    Wait. My head hurts.

  67. #67
    On March 24th, 2011 at 11:28 am, granite said:

    On March 24th, 2011 at 11:01 am, Captain Blasto said:

    Wait. My head hurts.

    Your head?

    My hair hurts.

  68. #68
    On March 24th, 2011 at 11:29 am, Dexter Alarius said:

    you will adminster your own healthcare to -yourself-, complete your own HIPAA Compliance etc. and FINE yourselves for failure to DO so!

    Done! But, I’m waiving all my own fines.

  69. #69
    On March 24th, 2011 at 11:34 am, Marshall_Will said:

    Done! But, I’m waiving all my own fines.

    Sorry, but that’s an infraction under Obeyme Revised Statute 168.01.137 ( Article C, Sub-Chapter (a) ) It’s all there in black & white!

    You’ll leave us w/ no choice but to turn yourself ‘in’ to.. yourself?

  70. #70
    On March 24th, 2011 at 11:38 am, Southpaw said:

    Done! But, I’m waiving all my own fines.

    Not allowed. That money is needed to pay public employee union pensions and health benefits.

  71. #71
    On March 24th, 2011 at 11:50 am, right_on said:

    When do you suppose that some enterprising (AKA:lying dirtbag maggot a-hole) liberal, who is filled with “rich-man’s” guilt, starts a company that trades in Healtcare Offset Credits, a la Carbon Credits?

    I don’t know exactly how it would work, except that cash would flow in, an abstract formula for redirecting the costs of unused, or unneeded healthcare benefits, to those who can’t afford their healthcare costs, gets filtered, categorized, and abstractly reassigned to the point that no one knows what the purpose for it was in the first place, but whomever though it up gets even richer.

    What?

  72. #72
    On March 24th, 2011 at 11:54 am, Dexter Alarius said:

    a company that trades in Healtcare Offset Credits

    I think a prisoner in CA is already using the Congressionally mandated sex-change coverage I didn’t need.

  73. #73
    On March 24th, 2011 at 12:20 pm, Ty85719 said:

    Still waiting for some Lefty to justify how all these Lefty local governments and Obama butt-kissers deserve to be exempt from Obamacare after promoting it.

  74. #74
    On March 24th, 2011 at 4:41 pm, FirstSkirt said:

    Ha..Weiner Waiver…I’m dyin’ over here!

  75. #75
    On March 24th, 2011 at 8:31 pm, Virginia Patriot said:

    You’re not going to have to wave your weiner to get a weiner waiver, will you?

  76. #76
    On March 25th, 2011 at 10:41 am, libertytoo said:

    I was going to make some snide comment… but it’s just to easy.

  77. #77
    On March 25th, 2011 at 1:01 pm, FirstSkirt said:

    VA Patriot#78 – Bwaaahaaa.…you are one funny guy. For the benefit of the ladies, what are we gonna wave to get the weiner waiver? Bwahaaaa…

  78. #78
    On March 25th, 2011 at 3:26 pm, Virginia Patriot said:

    Anything you want….. ;)

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