Congress Governs Self Under Obamacare

WASHINGTON (AP) — How does "Obamacare" apply to Congress?

Like so much of the law, the answer's complicated.

Members of Congress this week finalized their take on how President Barack Obama's signature health care law will work inside the fiefdoms of lawmakers' staffs. The law only says that aides in "official" offices must exit the federal health insurance program and shop for policies in an exchange. The Obama administration says lawmakers should decide who is "official."

That's produced a patchwork of internal office policy across Capitol Hill. Republican Senate leaders and Democrats like House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, are shifting all their staffer to the exchanges. Others, like GOP Rep. Darrell Issa and Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson, are keeping all of their aides in the federal insurance program.