Noem, Thune Announce Legislation to Protect Tribes from Costly Employer Mandate
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) and Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), along with Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) and Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT), today announced the introduction of legislation to protect Native American tribes from the Affordable Care Act’s costly employer mandate. The Tribal Employment and Jobs Protection Act, which was introduced today in the Senate and House, will exempt tribes and tribal employers from Obamacare’s employer mandate. This legislation would prevent massive fines that tribal employers would incur under Obamacare’s employer mandate.
“The employer mandate within the President’s health care law is unaffordable for South Dakota tribes. Moreover, it is unnecessary, given the federal government already has the responsibility of providing healthcare for tribal members,” said Noem. “Without the relief granted by the Tribal Employment and Jobs Protection Act, tribal governments could be required to cut important services while tribally-owned businesses could be forced to cut jobs. I’m hopeful this burden created by an ill-constructed law can soon be lifted.”
“While I believe all Americans should receive an exemption from Obamacare’s individual and employer mandates, it seems illogical that Obamacare exempts members of federally recognized tribes from the individual mandate’s penalty, but requires tribal governments to comply with the law’s employer mandate,” 
said Thune. “In South Dakota, tribes often serve as the primary employer of their community members. This mandate would have a significant negative impact on tribes and tribal citizens by diverting much-needed valuable resources away from economic development and important programs toward this burdensome law.”
South Dakota’s Rosebud Sioux Tribe has endorsed the Tribal Employment and Jobs Protection Act, saying: “Forced compliance with the Employer Shared Responsibility Payment provision … could prove to be financially devastating for the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. With over 800 employees, estimates show that compliance with this mandate could possibly cost the Rosebud Sioux Tribe in excess of six million dollars annually…. Passage of the Tribal Employment and Jobs Protection Act will provide the Rosebud Sioux Tribe with relief from this financially debilitating provision of the Affordable Care Act. The Rosebud Sioux Tribe fully supports and humbly requests support from members of the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate in passage of the Tribal Employment and Jobs Protection Act.” To view a fully copy of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe statement, please click here.
Additionally, National Indian Health Board Executive Director Stacy A. Bohlen said, “On behalf of the 567 federally-recognized Tribes we serve, I am excited to see this vital piece of legislation introduced. The federal trust responsibility to the Tribes requires the federal government to provide healthcare for American Indians and Alaska Natives. The Employer mandate of the Affordable Care Act is simply unaffordable for many Tribes who will cut essential government services to pay this obligation. The employer mandate on Tribal employers contradicts not only the trust responsibility, but provisions in the Affordable Care Act which exempt American Indians and Alaska Natives from the individual mandate. Thank you to Senator Daines and Congresswoman Noem for introducing this critical bill.”
The legislation is also supported by the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board, which represents tribes in South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, and Iowa. You may view their resolution here.
The full text of the legislation can be found here.
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There’s a “three dollar bill” piece of phony baloney for ‘ya. Noem and Thune have done little for the tribes in the past and have even worked to make it much harder for Natives to vote against them by moving polling stations miles from population centers. This Tribal Employment and Jobs Protection Act is but another weak and pitiful attempt to remove the first ounce of flesh from Obamacare, It didn’t happen with the 61 attempts at repeal and it won’t happen now. The tribes are already exempt from the Employer Shared Responsibility Payment provision because they’re guaranteed healthcare from IHS. Barack Obama would rather give John Boehner the keys to the White House wine cellar than not veto this garbage should it move anywhere in Congress.
Hey Porter, look at the tribal organizations that support the bill. They know this is necessary for their budgets.
Course the Tribes disagree. But you pot-smoking libs know better.
Another out of state liberal extremist pothead commenting on SD blogs
Mr. Lansing, I suppose to some “out of state liberal extremist pothead” is a rebuttal to what you stated? Those type of remarks are as close as they come to discussing the facts or trying to refute what a “libbie” states as fact….The Lil Darlins are though cute in their own silly way.
i think the facts from the joint press release about the bill are as stated. frankly, porter’s initial post shouting that “republicans never do anything for tribes and now here they are” is much more the weak rhetorical nonsense in this instance.
“i think the facts from the joint press release about the bill are as stated.”– I wasn’t talking about what was “stated”:I was referring to the meaningless comments.
Just like vets.He says he supported health care for vets then voted against mandatory funding for health care.This guy nothing but a photo op and attende at basketball games.
You and Porter are neck and neck for the most worthless comments on this site.
That is hilarious.. think about it.
Why get so upset with Porter , his out of state comments are irrelevant . Who cares what a Colorado citizen thinks of our Congressional Delegation or state political atmosphere . Let him rant it must be therapeutic for him .
Apparently you care. You’re commenting.
rep. verchio, you’ve been cut to the quick. do you need a bandaid?
When you’re dedicated to fighting bullies you go where the bullies are. Is it the case that you support the premise of this legislation, Rep. Verchio?
PS …. It’s not a South Dakota issue if it happens in Washington. AND, how many tribes are involved? By the way, how’s that “Fast and Furious” going? And Benghazi? Not real good at finishing, huh? lol
porter all your dumb comment proves is that the national democrats have chosen to play stall-ball in the final minute of the game rather than let the peoples’ congress do their necessary repair work on the broken system reid and pelosi left behind. nothing more.
“the broken system reid and pelosi left behind.”?—You said it, you explain it.
Mr. Lansing, as them to name ONE thing in history those of the conservative/religious mentality have been right about…deflect, deflect, deflect.
Obamacare was an issue … once. USA 1 – LOSERVILLE 0 We’re working on your prison, now. You’ve got people in there for petty pot crimes that’ll be trimming buds in Flandreau by February.
Sounds like pandering to the base to me. I want Obamacare gone, but why should one special interest group get a pass?
Because we kind of, like, have a treaty with the tribes.