Rubio to Obama: Rethink mandate delay

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) called on President Obama to reconsider delaying individual enrollment in ObamaCare now that it likely holds majority support in the Senate. 

{mosads}In a letter to the president sent Thursday, Rubio said the half dozen Senate Democrats who have come out in support of a delay gives the proposal enough support to pass with a bipartisan majority. 

“Given your own admission that the website’s problems cannot be ‘sugar-coated,’ I believe my legislation rests on common-ground between us despite our differences over ObamaCare as a whole, and is therefore deserving of your support,” he said. 

“In fact, six Democratic senators have already announced their support for delaying the mandate, giving such a measure enough votes to pass with bipartisan support.”

Rubio’s legislation would delay the individual mandate for six months after the website begins functioning normally.

Republicans will hold 45 seats in the Senate once interim Sen. Jeff Chiesa (R-N.J.) steps down at month’s end. And At least seven Democrats — many up for reelection in 2014 — have expressed support for delaying the tax penalty after the HealthCare.gov website’s shaky rollout earlier this month. 

The tax would kick in after March 31, 2014, if individuals do not sign up for health insurance.

While some, like Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) are calling for a one-year delay, others, including Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) have pushed for a more modest two-month delay. 

Other Democrats calling for some type of delay are Sens. Mark Begich (Alaska), Michael Bennet (Colo.), Dianne Feinstein (Calif.), Martin Heinrich (N.M.), Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.), Mark Udall (Colo.), Tom Udall (N.M.) and Mark Pryor (Ark.).

Rubio said President Obama expressed a willingness to negotiate after the shutdown ended but has not followed through on his word. 

“Now your administration is suggesting that the only people who can propose changes are those who support it, and that all others lack sincerity,’ ” he said referring to White House press secretary Jay Carney’s comments about Rubio’s proposal.  

“This is an unfair and irresponsible assertion,” he added.