Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
House GOP Hires Jonathan Turley To Sue Obama
CNN: Boehner Hires Third Lawyer To Sue Obama
House Republicans are hoping the third time is a charm in their effort to sue President Barack Obama over his signature health care law. After two Washington law firms backed out of earlier commitments to represent House Republicans in their legal challenge, House Speaker John Boehner hired Jonathan Turley on Tuesday. Turley is a George Washington professor who is an expert on constitutional law and well known to cable TV viewers as a legal analyst. (Walsh, 11/18)
The Wall Street Journal's Washington Wire: House Republicans Hire Jonathan Turley To Pursue Obama Lawsuit
GOP leaders have said the lawsuit is expected to focus on the White House’s decision last year to give employers a one-year reprieve on enforcing a requirement under the Affordable Care Act that they offer health coverage or pay a penalty. That requirement was originally delayed until 2015 and then subsequently revised to say that employers with between 50 and 99 full-time workers wouldn’t have to comply or pay a fee until 2016. Some rank-and-file lawmakers have suggested the lawsuit should be expanded to include any executive actions taken by Mr. Obama on immigration, something GOP leaders have previously contemplated. Mr. Boehner’s spokesman said there is no current plan to expand the lawsuit, but that it remains an option depending on what actions are taken by the White House. (Crittenden, 11/18)
The Hill: Boehner Hires New Lawyer For Obama Lawsuit
Turley has testified on Capitol Hill in support of the lawsuit, which has been criticized as a nonstarter in parts of the legal community. He confirmed his contract with House Republicans on his personal blog. "It is a great honor to represent the House of Representatives," Turley wrote on Monday. (Viebeck, 11/18)
The Washington Post: Boehner Finally Found Someone To Sue Obama. And He’s A Liberal.
Turley, who said he voted for Obama in 2008 and supports national health care, is now the third lawyer that Speaker John Boehner has hired on this lawsuit since it was announced this summer. Turley's hiring has drawn some quick derision from the left. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi during a press conference on Tuesday referred to Turley as a "TV lawyer," a dig on his frequent appearances on cable news networks ... For his part, Turley says that he's been alarmed by what he sees as a creeping power grab by the executive branch, regardless of which party is in the White House. (Milman, 11/19)
Meanwhile, Boehner said that even though he's newly eligible for Medicare, he'll stick with the "expensive" plan he purchased through a government marketplace under the health law -
Politico: Boehner Opts For Obamacare Over Medicare
House Speaker John Boehner became eligible for Medicare when he turned 65 years old Monday, but he’s not planning to sign up. Instead, Boehner is going to keep his “expensive” Obamacare insurance plan. The Affordable Care Act required members of Congress to get off the federal government’s insurance plan and, in most cases, enroll in an Obamacare policy. When members turn 65, they become eligible for Medicare as well. (Haberkorn, 11/18)
