Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Harry Mason ReidSenate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Mellman: The likely voter sham Bottom line MORE (D-Nev.) quickly shot down speculation about a possible "exemption" for lawmakers and staff from the central part of ObamaCare.

Reid spokesman Adam Jentleson said Reid has never considered exempting members and staff from the law's insurance exchanges, and will not consider it in the future.

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"There are not now, have never been, nor will there ever be any discussions about exempting members of Congress or Congressional staff from Affordable Care Act provisions that apply to any employees of any other public or private employer offering health care," Jentelson said.

Some lawmakers have been discussing a change in the way the healthcare law treats lawmakers and their staffers.

The law requires them to buy insurance through the newly created insurance exchanges, rather than using the system for federal employees. But there is a question as to whether the government, as an employer, can still help cover part of the healthcare costs for lawmakers and staff.

Reid's office said "no legislative fix is necessary" to resolve the issue.







