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U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson is being accused of "an unfortunate political stunt" by one of his fellow Wisconsin Republicans.

Rep. James Sensenbrenner released a statement Sunday criticizing Johnson for planning to file a lawsuit Monday over a provision in the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

"Senator Johnson should spend his time legislating rather than litigating, as our country is facing big problems that must be addressed by Congress — not the courts," Sensenbrenner said.

Johnson's lawsuit intends to challenge a federal rule that allows members of Congress and their staffs to continue to receive health benefits similar to other federal employees.

The lawsuit stems from a provision in the Affordable Care Act that requires members of Congress and their staffs to buy health insurance on the marketplaces set up through the law.

A rule released last summer by the Office of Personnel Management stated that the federal government could continue to contribute to the cost of health benefits for members of Congress and their staffs — just as it does for other federal employees — even though they would be buying health insurance on a marketplace.

Johnson said Friday he was filing the lawsuit because members of Congress made a "covenant" with the American people and promised to subject themselves to the law. The administration, he said, helped them back out of that deal.

But Sensenbrenner took issue with Johnson's depiction of the provision.

"The employer contribution he's attacking is nothing more than a standard benefit that most private and all federal employees receive — including the president," he said. "Success in this suit will mean that Congress will lose some of its best staff."

Later Sunday, Johnson's office issued a rebuttal to Sensenbrenner.

"I have always respected Congressman Sensenbrenner, but I am disappointed and puzzled by his disagreement with me on an issue that all but two congressional Republicans (including Congressman Sensenbrenner) have voted in favor of — ending the special treatment for members of Congress and their staffs under Obamacare," Johnson said in the statement.

Johnson plans to hold a news conference on the lawsuit at 12:15 p.m. ET in Washington, D.C.

Members of Congress and their staffs still must buy health insurance through a marketplace — as specified in the law. The federal rule that Johnson is challenging only deals with whether the federal government will continue to pay part of the cost, just as it does for other federal employees.

The federal government pays about 72% of the cost of the various health plans available to federal employees or 75% of the cost of the chosen plan, whichever is less.

Private employers on average pay more than 80% of the cost of health benefits.

Johnson contended that members of Congress and their staffs get special treatment under the law. "This is an issue of basic fairness that I believe is worth fighting for," he said Sunday.

Guy Boulton and Patrick Marley of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report.