Senators Demand WH Reveal Which Agencies Are Promoting Obamacare

On Thursday, 39 Republican senators sent a letter to the White House demanding to know the 21 agencies that are promoting Obamacare and whether those agencies are being reimbursed–or even have the legal authority to do so.

Agencies suspected to be engaging in promotional work, according to the senators, include: the Food and Drug Administration; the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; Institute for Museum and Library Services; the Small Business Administration; and the Departments of Agriculture, Housing and Urban Development, Labor, and Commerce.

According to the Washington Examiner, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY), Mike Lee (R-UT), and John McCain (R-AZ) were among those who signed the letter.

The senators attached spreadsheets that “appear to specifically require agencies to provide information and undertake activities in support of the health care law regardless of their statutory missions and responsibilities.”

The senators demanded the specific statutory authority and legal opinions the agencies have received or cited and whether Heath and Human Services is “reimbursing other agencies for their promotional or implementation activities.” They also wanted to know whether the federal government is “requiring promotional or implementation activities” by state or local governments or non-government contractors.

In addition to asking for any correspondence between the White House and Health and Human Services in regards to the promotion of Obamacare by the various agencies, the senators requested “each congressional authorizing and appropriating committee with jurisdiction be given a detailed report on these issues no later than August 14 and that the Administration make the information available to the public so everyone is aware of the true costs of the health care law.”