Can A Strapped IRS Enforce Obamacare Rules?
The agency’s added responsibilities come as Congress slashed its budget by $346 million this year, reports The Fiscal Times. Other stories look at the continued sign-up problems of legal immigrants and the Virginia man whose name is on the legal challenge to the health law's subsidies that will be heard this spring by the Supreme Court.
The Fiscal Times:
Underfunded IRS Begins Crucial Obamacare Test
The White House is gearing up for what’s likely to be the most headache-inducing tax season yet as the struggling Internal Revenue Service begins enforcing the more than 40 new Affordable Care Act tax provisions. Many are crucial to the success of the health care law. (Ehley, 2/6)
Politico:
Face Of Supreme Court Case Hates Obama, Obamacare
The man who could cripple Obamacare isn’t shy about telling the world that he thinks the president is an “idiot,” posting altered images of the First Lady in Middle Eastern clothing and expressing his hatred for the “Democraps” who enacted the health care law.
David M.King, 64, is the lead plaintiff on the Supreme Court case that challenges the government’s right to grant tax subsidies to millions of Americans in certain states to make health insurance more affordable. When the case is argued on March 4, King — friendly, with graying hair and a mustache — will become the public face of King v. Burwell, the most significant threat to the Affordable Care Act since the 2012 Supreme Court case that put the law’s individual mandate on the line. (Haberkorn, 2/6)
USA Today:
Immigrants Still Face Health Care Enrollment Snags
Immigrants and others trying to prove their citizenship and identities to enroll in health insurance still face some of the problems they had during the last open enrollment, according to those helping them sign up. Most people in the 37 states using the federal exchange can complete a relatively short application, but immigrants have to use the still-complex, longer form and deal with a multi-stage process of proving their status and identities. (O'Donnell, 2/5)
Connecticut Mirror:
Insurers’ Financial Health Improves Post-Affordable Care Act
As House Republicans once again voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act this week, there was further evidence the controversial bill is contributing to the good health of some of the nation’s major health insurers. (Radelat, 2/6)
