WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S.  Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) today announced she has introduced the Freeing Americans from Inequitable Requirements (FAIR) Act, legislation to ensure the administration exercises basic fairness when implementing ObamaCare. Specifically, the FAIR Act provides relief under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for all individuals and families by delaying the law’s individual mandate penalty whenever the White House delays the employer mandate. Fischer released the following statement:
 

“Hardworking American families in Nebraska and across the country continue to face the devastating impacts of ObamaCare as their health care costs skyrocket, plans are cancelled, and care options become more limited,” said Fischer. “While millions of Americans suffer under this failed law, the president has repeatedly acted unilaterally to offer selective delays for businesses and special interests. I believe the very least the administration should do is to offer individuals and families the same relief already afforded to political allies. The FAIR Act levels the playing field and ends the Washington game of picking winners and losers.”
 

In the past year, the Obama Administration has unilaterally delayed or modified the Affordable Care Act 20 times.  On July 2, 2013, the administration delayed until 2015 the requirement that employers with at least 50 full-time employees provide health coverage for their full-time workers or risk paying a penalty.  On February 10, 2014, the administration once again delayed the employer mandate until 2016 for employers who have between 50 and 99 full-time employees.
 

Original cosponsors of the FAIR Act include Sens. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Dan Coats (R-Ind.), Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Mike Johanns (R-Neb.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), David Vitter (R-La.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).
 

Full text of the FAIR Act is available HERE.
 

Similar legislation was introduced last month in the House of Representatives by Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), Chairman of the Republican Study Committee. Scalise applauded Fischer’s introduction of the FAIR Act in the Senate and issued the following statement:
 

“While President Obama does not have the legal authority to unilaterally rewrite laws and pick winners and losers, that’s exactly what he has attempted to do each time he delays portions of his health care law for a select few,” said Republican Study Committee Chairman Steve Scalise. “It’s time to extend American families the same relief from the law that businesses and special interests have been offered by President Obama.  It’s an honor to have Senator Fischer lead this effort in the Senate, and I appreciate her work as we work to provide fairness for all American families under President Obama’s devastating health care law.”