Beltway Confidential [Examiner, The (Washington, DC)]

By , Poliical Correspondent

Proquest LLC

HEALTH CARE

White House tries to explain Obama's claim that Americans can keep their health plans

White House press secretary Jay Carney said President Obama's claim that all Americans could keep their health insurance plans under the new health law deserved a "fuller explanation," acknowledging millions of consumers would not keep their current coverage.

Since the passage of Obamacare, the president has repeatedly insisted that if any individual likes their health care plan, they could "keep it."

Carney added a crucial caveat to that promise, saying Americans could keep their insurance if the plan is "still available."

In other words, if the plan is modified, coverage options that don't meet Obamacare standards could be canceled.

Still, Carney accused Republicans of distorting the impact of the cryptic administrative ruling.

"What we're talking about here is the 5 percent in the country who currently purchase insurance on the individual market," he said. "And that market has been like the Wild West.

"You would think we were talking about 75 percent of the population," he added.

NBC News reported that 50 to 75 percent of the 14 million people who purchase individual health insurance could receive a cancellation letter under the new law.

Carney argued that the dustup over Obama's "you can keep it" promise has no impact on those who receive health insurance from their employer or those covered by Medicaid.

Obama offered no such language on the campaign trail while shaking off charges that his signature domestic achievement could force some Americans to get new health plans.

Republicans were unmoved by Carney's arguments.

"Just to be clear, Jay Carney is dancing around the fact that millions will indeed lose their insurance plan, and they knew it," Rory Cooper, a spokesman for House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R- Va., said on Twitter.

When asked whether the president misled the public, Carney gave a simple answer: "No."

Brian Hughes, White House Correspondent

SURVEILLANCE

McCain wants select committee to review U.S. spying tactics

Sen. John McCain wants to form a special congressional committee to examine the nation's spying tactics.

The Arizona Republican said that leaks of classified information and phone tapping of European leaders has been an embarrassment and is evidence that the policies now in place need to be reviewed by Congress.

"I think we need a select committee," McCain said. "I'm glad that the intelligence committees are now going to review surveillance capability. Where were they the last four years? It's obvious that someone hasn't been minding the store."

The information was drawn from classified documents stolen by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden. It revealed that the NSA has been listening in on the calls of European leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

"This has damaged our Image in the world," McCain said.

McCain said Congress must review how the federal government awards security clearances in the wake of Snowden's theft of massive amounts of NSA data and the distribution of thousands of pages of classified information by Army Private Bradley Manning.

"How do we get people clearances and if we do give people clearances, why ... would a private in the Army have access to secret information?" McCain said. "Why would an employee of a contractor have information that he absolutely has no possible reason to know?"

McCain said too many people are gaining access to classified material partly because of the federal government's move to prevent the "stove-piping" of information that blocked inter-agency sharing prior to the , terrorist attacks.

"We are paying a very heavy price for sharing information with people that didn't to have the need to know," McCain said.

Susan Ferrechio, Chief Congressional Correspondent

TOURISM

National Park Service wastes money as monuments deteriorate

The National Park Service has a massive backlog of maintenance projects it cannot afford to address even as it continues to spend hundreds of millions of dollars acquiring thousands of additional acres of new park land that has drawn little interest from the public.

A lengthy report on the Park Service released by Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., found that the service intends to spend $30 million over five years just to plan the agency's centennial anniversary.

Coburn, a top fiscal watchdog in Congress, said the problems within the Park Service are "a microcosm of congressional mismanagement" of the bloated federal budget.

Coburn believes the Park Service is plagued by wasteful spending, and his report cites examples, including $17.3 million for "Heritage Partnership Programs" that include a wine-tasting train in Ohio and an "Autopalooza" automotive heritage show in Southeast Michigan.

The agency, meanwhile, is drowning in deferred maintenance on parks and monuments that totals $11.5 billion and is hindering the public use of some of the nation's more popular attractions.

Grand Canyon trails are in disrepair. Water at Yellowstone is pouring out of old pipes. And crumbling walkways at Independence National Historic Park in Philadelphia are leading to $2 million injury lawsuits.

Meanwhile, the Park Service keeps buying land.

The federal government plans to buy 1,366 acres to add to Wyoming'sGrand Teton National Park at a cost of $107 million and three acres in the Virgin Islands for $2.77 million, among other purchases.

Coburn's report found that the Park Service has added 26 parks since 1997, though only a small fraction of them are visited frequently.

The overall park service budget is $3 billion annually, with $2.58 billion from congressional appropriations.

Susan Ferrechio, Chief Congressional Correspondent

CAMPAIGNS

Virginia papers refuse to endorse McAuliffe or Cuccinelli

Here's how turned off Virginians are to the two major candidates for governor, Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Republican Ken Cuccinelli: Two of the state's most influential papers refused to endorse either.

The state's political giant, the Richmond Times-Dispatch, found nobody worth voting for in the gubernatorial race led by McAuliffe, the former Democratic Party boss and chief fundraiser.

"Our choice for governor in 2013: none of the above," said the state's political journal in a shocking editorial. "The major-party candidates have earned the citizenry's derision."

The editors reasoned that voters get the government they ask for, and the policies they saw in both candidates aren't ones they endorse.

"Elections make voters complicit in the government they receive. If we would not urge a family member to vote this way or that, then we have no business recommending Cuccinelli, McAuliffe or [Libertarian Robert] Sarvis to our readers.

The Charlottesville Daily-Progress went further. The paper endorsed outgoing Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, who was pushed aside by Virginia conservatives in a nominating convention that gave the GOP gubernatorial slot to Cuccinelli.

"His politics are centrist, his style is common-sense, his experience is invaluable, and one of his goals for the commonwealth is to reinstate good-government practices in lieu of the hyper- partisan gamesmanship that has, sadly, afflicted this election and much of Virginia politics in the past few years," the paper said.

The editors added: "The odds of a write-in candidate winning the governorship are extraordinarily high. But what are our alternatives? Stay home from the polls? Or hold our noses and vote for one of the deeply flawed major-party candidates? Better -- better by far -- to cast a vote, with a clear conscience, for a positive option with a positive message."

The paper later gave readers a detailed explanation on how to handle write-ins on the Nov. 5 ballot.

Paul Bedard, Washington Secrets Columnist

POLITICAL PARTIES

Durbin removes Facebook post about GOP insulting Obama

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., backed off a claim that a top Republican lawmaker once told President Obama in a private meeting, "I cannot even stand to look at you."

Durbin removed the claim from his Facebook page after White House officials took the blame for spreading incorrect information while they updated Democratic leaders on White House budget talks with GOP lawmakers during the government shutdown.

Durbin said the White House gave him "a bad quote" that "didn't occur."

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., have always denied making the comment, which Durbin claimed was uttered during the heated negotiations to end the government shutdown.

"Given that the White House has been clear -- on the record -- that the alleged 'GOP quote' was a complete fiction, this seems rather ungracious, but we're certainly in favor of working constructively to cut Washington spending and provide fairness for the American people under the president's health-care law," Boehner spokesman Michael Steel said.

Durbin added this comment to his Facebook page to explain the incident:

"I appreciate this clarification from the White House that explains recent conflicting reports on the GOP quote. It is important now to move beyond the unfortunate events of the last few weeks and work together constructively so that we're not faced with another shutdown showdown or debt-ceiling debacle."

Susan Ferrechio, Chief Congressional Correspondent

TERRORISM

White House made 'extraordinary efforts' to aid Benghazi probes, Carney says

White House press secretary Jay Carney said the Obama administration had made "extraordinary efforts" to work with congressional committees probing the deadly 2012 attack on the U.S. mission in Benghazi, Libya.

"When it comes to oversight and Benghazi, as you know, the administration has made extraordinary efforts to work with seven -- seven, rather, different congressional committees investigating what happened before, during and after the Benghazi attacks," Carney told reporters. "That includes testifying at 13 congressional hearings, participating in 40 staff briefings and providing over 25,000 pages of documents."

His comments came in response to a question about Sen. Lindsey Graham's, R-S.C., threat to hold all administration nominees unless he received more information about the deadly attack.

The September 2011 attack on the U.S. Consulate killed four Americans, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens and sparked a number of inquiries on Capitol Hill. Many Republican lawmakers have questioned why the administration initially blamed the attack on a spontaneous demonstration instead of a pre-planned terrorist plot. Lawmakers also have pressed to learn if the mission had been provided adequate security and if all steps possible to rescue the Americans on site were taken.

Meghashyam Mali, Assistant Managing Editor

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

Some furloughed feds keep unemployment pay -- and get back pay

The Obama administration is under fire for not pressing federal workers furloughed during the 16-day government shutdown to return unemployment benefits even though they are receiving back pay, effectively providing extra money for not working.

A letter sent by the chairman and several members of the House Ways and Means Committee to the Office of Management and Budget called it "a totally unfair form of double dipping."

At issue is how the 400,000 furloughed workers are categorized. While they have to return unemployment checks when they receive back pay, because the workers were not "performing a service," at least one and possibly more states will allow them to keep the unemployment money on top of the back pay Congress and the White House have agreed to fund.

"It is absolutely inexcusable that the Obama administration would even consider allowing employees who were furloughed, and who are getting back pay because Congress took action, to also keep their [unemployment] benefits," Ways and Means Chairman Rep. Dave Camp said. "Under that scheme you get paid not just once, but twice, not to work. Where is the logic in that? It is that kind of misuse of taxpayer dollars that the American people hate about Washington, and we need to stop this practice now."

The committee members urged the OMB to tell states that provided the unemployment to get it back.

"Specifically," the committee wrote OMB Director Sylvia Mathews Burwell, "you could provide federal findings to states that paying unemployment benefits -- on top of back pay -- to recently furloughed federal employees would constitute a misuse of taxpayer funds, and that any benefits that have been paid should be recovered."

Paul Bedard, Washington Secrets Columnist

ADMINISTRATION

Comey sworn in as FBI director

President Obama paid tribute to his new FBI director, James Comey, at his official swearing-in ceremony, calling him remarkably qualified to lead the agency.

"Jim has dedicated his life to defending our lives ... making sure that all Americans can trust the justice system to protect our rights and our well-being," Obama said at the FBI headquarters just a few blocks from the White House.

Obama said Comey would be a "remarkable new leader for this remarkable institution."

Comey was a top Justice Department official in the Bush administration and took over last month for Robert Mueller, who stepped down after 12 years of leading the agency.

Obama listed Comey's career accomplishments at the DOJ, recalling how he helped bring down the Gambino crime family, fought white- collar crime and delivered justice to terrorists.

"It's just about impossible to find a matter of justice he hasn't tackled and someone who isn't more uniquely qualified to lead the FBI," Obama said. The president cited the challenges the agency faced "as it fights violent organized crime and the constantly changing threats like terrorism and cybersecurity."

Obama concluded his remarks by thanking Comey for accepting the role and praising the men and women of the FBI.

"I'm proud of your work," he said. "You are the best of the best."

Susan Crabtree, White House Correspondent

OBAMACARE

Smiling woman on Healthcare.gov disappears

Healthcare.gov users were surprised to discover that the stock photo Image of a smiling woman was removed from the front page of the website.

The smiling woman has become the face of the Obamacare website as the reports in the media have focused on the site's technical failures for weeks.

The Image was replaced by a notice reminding website users of three other ways to sign up for Obamacare, including the telephone, in person or by paper.

Charlie Spiering, Commentary Writer

DEFENSE

Three veterans die after improper VA treatment

Improper care in the emergency room led to three patient deaths at the Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in Memphis last year, part of a growing pattern of preventable deaths at agency hospitals nationwide.

The latest report from the VA's inspector general found one of the patients was given medication despite a documented allergy to the drug, and had a fatal reaction.

Another died after being administered multiple medications without proper monitoring, and the third died after delays in getting proper treatment for very high blood pressure, the IG said.

The deaths occurred between April and September 2012.

Recent IG reports have linked patient deaths and infections at other veterans' facilities to improper care, unsafe sanitary practices and poor maintenance.

Those include five deaths from Legionnaires' disease at the VA medical facility in Pittsburgh, four deaths by suicide or drug overdose in Atlanta and six deaths resulting from delayed colon cancer screenings in Columbia, S.C.

Mark Flatten, Watchdog Reporter

ORGANIZED LABOR

Michigan teachers fight unions over forced dues

Michigan teachers are discovering that their union is determined to make it as hard as possible for them to take advantage of the state's new right-to-work law, which prohibits workers from being forced to pay dues to a union.

Nine teachers have sued the Michigan Education Association for unfair labor practices.

Eight of the teachers are being represented by the conservative Mackinac Center Legal Foundation. Their complaint says the union is violating the intent of the right-to-work law by giving them only a brief period -- the month of August -- to drop their membership.

One of the eight, Coopersville teacher Miriam Chanski, told MEA in a May letter she was leaving the union. MEA denied her request because it was sent in too early.

She claims the union did not tell her this at the time. She only learned of the August opt-out window in September. That was when MEA informed her she would have to pay another year's dues.

"It surprised me that there would be more to the process -- I had not heard anything else," she told the local ABC affiliate.

It got worse for her when MEA said that if she didn't continue to pay, they would report her to a collection agency, which would hurt her credit rating.

Linda Evon, a Pickney special-needs classroom assistant, also filed an unfair labor practice complaint against MEA. She said she tried to quit the union Sept. 4, only to be told the deadline had passed on Aug. 31.

Evon is getting legal assistance from the National Right to Work Foundation.

"Across the state, union bosses are pulling out all the stops to keep workers from exercising their rights under Michigan's right-to- work law," said Mark Mix, president of the foundation.

Both groups said they will argue that the one-month window violates the right-to-work law's language.

A spokesman for MEA did not respond to requests for comment.

Sean Higgins, Senior Writer

POLITICS

Crist hints at Florida gubernatorial bid

Former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist released a new video that strongly suggests he may run for his former office again.

"Tell me how I can help," Crist says in the video. "Share your comments with me here; I'll read every last one. I work for you, the people, always have and always will."

The 50-second ad ends with a campaign-like logo with Crist's name and the state of Florida.

Crist served one term as governor, but was abruptly booted from Florida's political scene after losing a Republican Senate primary race -- and then the general election, as a non-party-affiliated candidate -- to Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla.

Crist changed his political affiliation last year to become a Democrat shortly after endorsing President Obama's re-election campaign.

But Crist now might be looking to make a political comeback. Were he to run for governor, Crist would be challenging sitting Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican.

Crist's new video is front and center on an accompanying website, which solicits comments and reads in bold text, "Only you, the people, can get Florida back to common sense."

The website appears not to have been funded by any political committee, but by Crist himself. A note at the bottom reads, "Paid for personally by Charlie Crist."

Rebecca Berg, Political Correspondent

CELEBRITIES

Shaq endorses Christie for N.J. governor

Retired basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal has recorded a television spot endorsing Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J., for reelection on Nov. 5, calling him "a great man."

"I don't endorse many politicians, but Chris Christie is different," O'Neal says in the spot.

O'Neal, a Newark native, has been working with Christie to bring after-school activities to at-risk youth. In early October, Christie named O'Neal to be a statewide youth ambassador, and the two announced the initiative, which is called "Just Play."

"He's working with me to bring jobs back to our cities and on a new program to help kids in tough neighborhoods get ahead," O'Neal says in the ad.

"Gov. Christie has provided more funding for schools, given parents more choices in what schools their kids can go to and merit pay for good teachers."

Christie leads his opponent, Democrat State Sen. Barbara Buono, by 33 points in the latest Quinnipiac poll.

Ashe Schow, Commentary Writer

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