Sen. Vitter Attacks 'Lying' Lawmakers on Obamacare Subsidies

Sen. David Vitter attacked fellow Capitol Hill legislators on Thursday for "lying" by telling constituents that no Obamacare exemption exists for them and their staffs.

"Some are lying, trying to mislead the public about the Obamacare exemption for Congress," the Louisiana Republican said in a statement published by The Daily Caller. "President Obama recently issued a special rule for Congress and congressional staff to get a special subsidy to purchase health insurance on the Obamacare Exchange unavailable to every other American at similar income levels.

"That’s an exemption, plain and simple," he said.

Vitter has long opposed federal Obamacare subsidies for lawmakers and their staffs. He has proposed an amendment that would require all members of Congress, the president, vice president, and Obama administration appointees to buy health insurance on the Obamacare exchange without taxpayer-funded subsidies, the Daily Caller reports.

To illustrate his point, Vitter's office released a letter that fellow Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu, a Democrat, wrote to a constituent. The idea that legislators are getting special treatment on Obamacare "could not be further from the truth," Landrieu said.

"Once again, let me assure you that there is no exemption for Members of Congress and their staff in the [Affordable Care Act], nor will I ever support an ‘exemption’ for myself or my staff," Landrieu wrote, according to the Daily Caller.

But in a letter Vitter wrote to the same constituent, he said: "Senator Landrieu is trying to mislead you, to put it kindly. Others might say she is lying."

"As you have no doubt read, President Obama recently issued a special rule for Congress only," he added. "Under it, Congress and congressional staff get a special subsidy to purchase health insurance on the Obamacare Exchange unavailable to every other American at similar income levels.

"That special subsidy is worth approximately $11,000 per family," Vitter claimed.