In her continuing attempts to distance herself from President Barack Obama and her Washington party bosses in advance of a difficult reelection bid, liberal U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) has repeatedly claimed she opposes ObamaCare’s IRS 1099 paperwork mandate – despite her partisan votes to ram ObamaCare into law, and just weeks ago 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 McCaskill 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, McCaskill could have voted to spare Missouri job creators from ObamaCare’s IRS paperwork mandate by simply listening to her constituents and voting against ObamaCare’s passage, or by voting to repeal ObamaCare earlier this year. But instead, McCaskill gave President Obama the crucial 60th vote to ram ObamaCare into law on a straight party line, and voted just weeks ago to save the 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 Senator McCaskill touts her vote in Missouri, she’ll do so knowing full well that her liberal party bosses in Washington have simply given her 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, Claire McCaskill plays political games and Missouri’s families and job creators pay the price.”
Background Information:
McCaskill Has Claimed To Support Repeal Of The 1099 Provisions:
“U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill Is Once Again Co-Sponsoring Bipartisan Legislation To Repeal The Burdensome 1099 Tax Reporting Requirement Included In The Healthcare Law.” (Senator Claire McCaskill, “Senate Repeals 1099 Provision From Healthcare Law,” Press Release, 2/1/11)
“‘Removing This Provision Is An Important Way To Support Our Small Businesses As They Focus On Job Creation, While Opening A Meaningful Debate As To How We Can Improve Our New Healthcare Law,’ McCaskill Said.” (Senator Claire McCaskill, “Senate Repeals 1099 Provision From Healthcare Law,” Press Release, 2/1/11)
