Linda McMahon’s campaign is accusing GOP Senate rival Christopher Shays of having selective amnesia.
In 2008, which was his final year in the House, Shays co-sponsored the American Health Benefits Program Act of 2008 (H.R. 5348).
The bill, introduced by Rhode Island Democrat James Langevin, was intended to be a catalyst for universal health care.
“Let’s start to do the groundwork for what a presidential candidate who then as president will recommend,” Shays told The Hill newspaper in a 2008 video interview that was circulated by the McMahon campaign.
That legislation, which never made it out of the House subcommittee on health, set forth an individual mandate.
Scroll down to the bottom of the blog post for the actual text from the bill.
UPDATE: Here’s the rebuttal from Shays’ campaign spokeswoman Amanda Bergen
“No one should lose sight of the fact that we wouldn’t have to repeal Obamacare if Linda McMahon hadn’t helped elect Nancy Pelosi Speaker of the House in 2006 and keep her there in 2008 with her generous donations to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Every effective leader is not afraid to examine all alternatives before making a decision. As a member of Congress, during Christopher’s community meetings he was asked to draft legislation to show what it would take to provide all Americans with the same health care benefits provided to Congress and federal employees.
Having gone through that process, its clear to him that most healthcare decisions should be made on a state level rather than the federal level. That’s why Christopher supports the repeal of Obamacare.”
(b) Requirement of Coverage-
`(1) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in this subsection, each AHBP-eligible individual shall be enrolled in a qualified health plan under this title.
`(2) EXCEPTION FOR INDIVIDUALS DEMONSTRATING PUBLIC HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE- The requirement of paragraph (1) shall not apply to an individual who demonstrates coverage under any of the following:
`(A) MEDICARE- Coverage under parts A and B (or under part C) of title XVIII.
`(B) MEDICAID- Coverage under a State plan under title XIX.
`(C) TRICARE/CHAMPUS- Coverage under the TRICARE program under chapter 55, of title 10, United States Code.
`(D) INDIAN HEALTH SERVICES- Coverage under a medical care program of the Indian Health Service or of a tribal organization.
`(E) VETERANS HEALTH- Coverage under the veterans health care program under chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, if the coverage for the individual involved is determined to be not less than the coverage provided under a qualified health plan, based on the individual’s priority for services as provided under section 1705(a) of such title.
`(3) EXCEPTION FOR NONIMMIGRANTS- The requirement of paragraph (1) shall not apply to an individual described in subsection (a)(2)(A)(v).
`(4) EXCEPTION BASED ON RELIGIOUS OBJECTION- The requirement of paragraph (1) shall not apply to an individual who executes a written statement (in a form and manner specified by the Secretary) that–
`(A) the individual is conscientiously opposed to acceptance of medical treatment of the type covered by qualified health plans; and
`(B) the individual’s acceptance of medical treatment covered by such a plan would be inconsistent with the individual’s sincere religious beliefs.