WASHINGTON — Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, sent a letter to Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Acting Director Kathleen McGettigan on Wednesday threatening to subpoena documents regarding the OPM’s regulation that exempted Congress from Obamacare. Johnson also requested transcribed interviews with OPM employees. This letter follows Johnson’s August letter to the OPM that requested information and documents related to the congressional exemption from Obamacare.
“The Senate has long requested information about OPM’s 2013 regulation. In 2016, then-Senator David Vitter and I requested material about the development of the regulation. On August 16, 2017, I wrote to you requesting information and materials regarding OPM’s 2013 regulation. On September 1, 2017, OPM provided documents consisting primarily of material already provided to the Committee. This document production is insufficient. The American people have a right to know how and why OPM exempted Members of Congress from the full impact of Obamacare. If OPM does not produce the entirety of the information and materials requested in my August 16 letter by October 18, 2017, the Committee may be forced to consider the use of compulsory process,” Johnson wrote in the letter.
Johnson’s Aug. 16 letter can be found here.
The letter can be found here and below:
October 4, 2017
Ms. Kathleen McGettigan
Acting Director
Office of Personnel Management
1900 E Street, NW
Washington, DC 20415
Dear Ms. McGettigan:
The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is continuing to examine the regulation issued by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in 2013 that enabled Members of Congress and their staff to purchase health insurance offered by a District of Columbia Small Business Health Options Plan (SHOP) exchange and receive an employer contribution.
The Senate has long requested information about OPM’s 2013 regulation. In 2016, then-Senator David Vitter and I requested material about the development of the regulation. On August 16, 2017, I wrote to you requesting information and materials regarding OPM’s 2013 regulation. On September 1, 2017, OPM provided documents consisting primarily of material already provided to the Committee. This document production is insufficient. The American people have a right to know how and why OPM exempted Members of Congress from the full impact of Obamacare. If OPM does not produce the entirety of the information and materials requested in my August 16 letter by October 18, 2017, the Committee may be forced to consider the use of compulsory process.
In addition, to assist the Committee in better understanding the development and implementation of OPM’s 2013 regulation, I request that you make the following individuals available for transcribed interviews:
Please contact Committee staff as soon as possible, but no later than October 18, 2017, to arrange the transcribed interviews.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Ron Johnson
Chairman
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