CBS: ‘Obamacare’ Delay ‘Major Setback’ For WH, ‘Barely Operational’ Law Would ‘Hurt Workers’
On Wednesday, the anchors of CBS This Morning savaged the White House over the decision to delay the implementation of the employer health insurance coverage mandate until 2015. The anchors called the decision a “major setback” for the law and its supporters. They noted that the law is politically unpopular and the outcry from employers had the potential to become political damaging to President Barack Obama’s administration.
“This requirement was one of the more controversial provisions in the whole massive health care law, and the Obama administration has gotten an earful about it,” said CBS reporter Jan Crawford. “Small businesses were threatening layoffs to avoid having to comply with the provision. All of that of course raising concerns the health care law was going to hurt workers and the economy.”
“A major concession in what is considered the president’s signature achievement,” she continued. She noted that this contradicts Obama’s recent assertion that the law is “working the way it’s supposed to.”
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“This is not good,” said CBS Political Director John Dickerson. “It sort of contributes to the feeling that the Affordable Care Act is a jalopy they’re trying to roll out of the driveway here at barely operational for the president.”
“The White House made the decision, though, take the pain now before the July 4th weekend rather than have all of these stories over the next year of companies that were laying off workers or having a hard time implementing this,” he concluded.
“I read though the comments at the Treasury Department and the White House in announcing this,” Norah O’Donnell added. “They acknowledge that they have heard the concerns by businesses – it was vociferous and directed at the White House.”
