In his continuing attempts to distance himself from President Barack Obama and his Washington party bosses in advance of a difficult reelection bid, liberal U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) has repeatedly claimed he opposes ObamaCare’s IRS 1099 paperwork mandate – despite supporting ObamaCare as a whole, and voting to prevent its repeal.
But as Politico reports, Senate Democrats are trying “to have it both ways” on the job-killing mandate, crafting a backroom amendment that will allow vulnerable Democrats like Manchin to vote for repeal as an act of political posturing, but with no chance of the repeal actually taking effect:
Trying to thwart a Republican repeal of the health reform law’s 1099 tax reporting requirements, Senate Democrats are working on an amendment that could kill the proposal down the road…[the] amendment gives fellow Democrats cover to vote on the Johanns amendment while most likely not allowing it to go into effect.
Notably, Manchin could have voted to spare West Virginia job-creators from ObamaCare’s IRS paperwork mandate by simply listening to his constituents and voting to repeal all of ObamaCare. But instead, Manchin voted just weeks ago to save President Obama’s costly, unpopular overhaul – which cuts Medicare by $500 billion, raises taxes by $570 billion, and which the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) recently estimated will increase federal deficits by $260 billion through 2019.
“As Manchin touts his vote in West Virginia, he’ll do so knowing full well that his liberal party bosses in Washington have simply given him political cover while they try to keep ObamaCare’s job-killing mandate in place,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Chris Bond. “As usual, Joe Manchin plays political games and West Virginia’s families and job creators pay the price.”
Background Information:
Manchin Has Claimed To Support Repeal Of The 1099 Provisions:
Manchin Said “I Am Encouraged Tonight That My Colleagues Put Politics Aside And Started This Repair Effort By First Supporting Efforts To Repeal The Onerous 1099 Provision.” “U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) issued the following statement today after he voted in favor of measures repealing the onerous1099 provision that would hurt small businesses. ‘I dont think that throwing out the good parts of this bill, like helping seniors afford prescription drugs or ending discrimination against people with preexisting conditions, makes good common sense, Manchin said. Thats why I have repeatedly said that we should make every effort to work together on repairing this bill before we start talking about repealing it. In that spirit, I am encouraged tonight that my colleagues put politics aside and started this repair effort by first supporting efforts to repeal the onerous 1099 provision. We should next work on commonsense legislative options to repair the individual mandate.’” (Senator Manchin Press Release, “Manchin Statement On Health Care Votes,” 2/2/11)
Manchin Co-Sponsored A Bill That Would Repeal The 1099 Provision Of The Health Care Law. “Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin is making good on a campaign pledge: He’s co-sponsoring a bill that would repeal one piece of the federal law overhauling the nation’s health care system. Manchin announced Friday he’s backing Senate Bill 3946, which would repeal the so-called 1099 provision widely opposed by business owners.” (“Manchin Backs Repeal Of Health Care Law Provision,” The Associated Press, 11/19/10)
