To the editor:
Hope Taylor’s op-ed piece “The Tyranny of Congress” of May 10, 2016, starts off with the often-quoted myth of Congressional exemption from the Affordable Care Act.
For the record, Congress is mandated to buy their health care from the same exchanges as all citizens. They can choose whatever plan they like and therefore may choose a more expensive plan than the average citizen could afford.
The government, as their employer, chips in approximately 75 percent of the Congress person’s premium as opposed to the private sector employers who generally chip in 80 percent.
Many of the claims Ms. Taylor makes can be “checked” at Politifact.com where they rate the general claim of Congressional exemption from laws “Pants On Fire.” Misinformation is everywhere these days and it only needs a few puffs on the flame to get spread around.
The general anger at our elected officials could be more effectively used to encourage Congress to change the campaign finance laws. The true “legal” corruption of our elected officials happens through the funding process.
Carl Querfurth
Jaffrey