Less than a week before the March 31 end of open enrollment for the Obama health law, that deadline was extended by the Obama Administration, giving people more to finish their applications if they have had troubles signing up for private health insurance coverage.
"Another day, another Obamacare delay," said Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), as GOP lawmakers expressed their frustration with the latest delay to the President's health reform law.
But while Republicans grumbled, some Democrats saluted the move, which leaked out late on Tuesday night.
"I'm glad to learn there will more time to sign up for quality health insurance," tweeted Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY).
The move came two weeks after Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius had assured House members at a pair of hearings that no more delays were in the pipeline for the health law.
"Are you going to delay the open enrollment beyond March 31?" asked Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) at a House Ways and Means Committee hearing earlier this month.
"No, sir," Sebelius said flatly.
You can see video of that here.
The next day, Sebelius assured another House committee that there would be no delay in the March 31 deadline, saying, "the enrollment deadline, which was set out to end March 31, will end March 31."
Officials said last night that the deadline has not changed, that it remains March 31 - but if individuals need extra time to finish their applications, they will get that, a distinction without a difference for critics of the health reform law.
The delay was first reported by the Washington Post, which said consumers will be able to check a box on healthcare.gov indicating they tried to enroll before the March 31 deadline - in essence, an honor system - in order to get the extra time.
For those wondering - in §1311 of the health law, the HHS Secretary is given the power to set dates for enrollment - so there is your legal underpinning for any date change.
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