House Republicans are crafting a new strategy to keep the spotlight on the deficiencies of Obamacare, according to the New York Times.
The effort, Politico reports, includes "investigations by at least eight committees, subpoenas for testimony from key administration officials, and an initiative by Rep. Darrell Issa, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, to hold hearings around the country to highlight Americans’ problems with the law."
GOP lawmakers are asked to provide reports from constituents who have been harmed by the healthcare law, and that information would be disseminated in rolling, coordinated attacks using social media to get the stories to the public..
The strategy, laid out in a document, is aimed at keeping Democrats on the defensive.
Moreover, House Republicans are also being asked to adhere to a message of the week and use a newly created website to share constituent accounts, of Obamacare problems.
"There is a method being followed here, but, really, these stories are creating themselves," Republican Rep. Michael Burgess of Texas said.
The negative stories include the problem-ridden HealthCare.gov website; cancellations received by millions of Americans whose existing policies do not meet Obamacare guidelines; cyber security concerns of the insurance exchanges; premium increases; and the possibility that small-business employees could lose their health insurance next year.
Another element of the strategy is to have GOP-controlled House committees emphasize their oversight responsibilities — keeping the heat on Obamacare — instead of working on new legislation.
Senior committee staffers will coordinate to make sure the oversight committees work in concert and keep attention squarely on the administration's failures in general and Obamacare's glitches in particular, according to the Times.
Democrats are trying to answer the GOP campaign with their own counteroffensive intended to show the benefits of Obamacare, even creating their own "This Is Obamacare" website.
The site tells visitors that Republicans want to take away affordable care for the uninsured and would remove the benefit that allows children to stay on their parents' health plans until age 26.
The site also provides positive news stories about Obamacare.
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