Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) intends to introduce legislation to delay the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's individual mandate until six months after the Government Accountability Office confirms the federal exchange website is fully operational.
Sen. Rubio issued a statement yesterday saying it isn't fair to punish people for not purchasing health insurance in 2014 when the site they are supposed to buy it through — HealthCare.gov — doesn't work. He plans to introduce the bill when the Senate reconvenes next week.
Since the healthcare reform law's marketplaces opened for enrollment, Republicans have criticized the federal exchange site for technical errors such as people not being able to create accounts, dysfunctional drop down tools and the site crashing due to high traffic.
Members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee plan to hold a hearing Thursday concerning the healthcare reform law's "troubled rollout," and Republican lawmakers have called for HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to resign.
However, Sec. Sebelius has expressed no intention of resigning, and the Obama administration has expressed "full confidence" in her, according to a report from The New York Times. President Barack Obama has described the glitches as speed bumps any new product rollout is bound to encounter.
More Articles on PPACA Implementation:
GOP Demands Sec. Sebelius's Resignation, She Stands Firm
Federal PPACA Exchange Site Needs Overhaul, Experts Say
Republicans to Hold Hearing on PPACA's "Troubled" Implementation