‘Don’t do this to me’ says HHS head after questioning on Obamacare VIDEO
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius was frustrated after questioning from the House Energy and Commerce Committee Wednesday when she was caught on an open microphone, muttering, “don’t do this to me,” after Missouri Republican Rep. Billy Long questioned her.
Kathleen Sebelius HHS photo
At the hearing, meant to examine the rocky and problematic rollout of the HealthCare.gov enrollment website , Long asked Sebelius to commit to going on the healthcare exchanges herself.
The challenge came after she explained that she was not on the exchange, as she was provided insurance by her employer.
She said she believed that it would be illegal for her to do so.
“There are a lot of things striking about the roll out of this and about the Affordable Care Act altogether, but the thing that’s most striking to me is that when we have the point person for the roll out here, and you’re not going into the exchange,” Long said.
“Will you tell the American public that, ‘Yes, I will go into the exchanges next year like everyone else’?” Long pressed.
“I think it’s illegal for me,” Sebelius shot back.
“If it’s not illegal. If it’s legal, will you go in?” Long continued.
“If I have affordable coverage –” Sebelius said before being cut off.
“Come on in, the water’s fine,” Long concluded.
As the chairman’s gavel sounded, indicating Long’s time for questions had expired, Sebelius turned to an aide seated behind her and exchanged words. A hot mic picked up the phrase, “don’t do this to me.”
She later clarified that she would “gladly join the exchange if I didn’t have affordable coverage in my workplace.”
