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 Jon Tester (D-MT) has repeatedly claimed he opposes ObamaCare’s IRS 1099 paperwork mandate – despite his 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 Tester 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, Tester could have voted to spare Montana job creators from ObamaCare’s IRS paperwork mandate by simply listening to his constituents and voting against ObamaCare’s passage, or by voting to repeal ObamaCare earlier this year. But instead, Tester 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 Tester touts his vote in Montana, 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 their job-killing mandate in place,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Chris Bond. “As usual, Jon Tester plays political games and Montana’s families and job creators pay the price.”
Background Information:
Tester Has Claimed To Support Repeal Of The 1099 Provisions:
A Tester Spokeswoman Said The Senator Considered Repealing The 1099 Provision A Way To Improve The Health Care Law. “Montana Sen. Jon Tester, another moderate Democrat who has to face voters in 2012, is not expected to support repeal, either. He ‘will continue to work to find ways to improve the health insurance reform law — like voting to repeal the 1099 provision — but he will not vote to repeal the overall bill, because repeal would add $230 billion to our national debt and because repeal would mean many Montanans would not be able to get coverage due to pre-existing conditions and seniors would continue struggling to pay for much-needed prescription drugs,’ spokeswoman Andrea Helling said.” (Jennifer Haberkorn and Shira Toeplitz, “McConnell Maneuvers For Health Vote,” Politico, 2/1/11)
Tester “Applauded Senate Passage . . . Of Legislation To Eliminate New Form 1099 Paperwork Requirements,” And Said “This Is The Right Thing To Do Because It Cuts Red Tape In A Fiscally Responsible Way, Allowing Montana’s Small Businesses To Focus On Creating Jobs.” “Montana’s U.S. Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester applauded Senate passage today of legislation to eliminate new Form 1099 paperwork requirements and free up resources for Montana small businesses to grow and create jobs. . . . ‘This is the right thing to do because it cuts red tape in a fiscally responsible way, allowing Montana’s small businesses to focus on creating jobs,’ Tester said.” (Senator Jon Tester, “Baucus, Tester Applaud Passage Of Bill To Cut Small Business Paperwork Burden,” Press Release, 2/2/11)
