Jeanne Shaheen to introduce Obamacare bill next week

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen will introduce a bill next week extending Obamacare’s open enrollment period by at least two months.

The bill from the New Hampshire Democrat, who Republicans hope will be challenged by former GOP Sen. Scott Brown next year, would extend the Affordable Care Act’s enrollment deadline through at least May 31 and contain flexibility to further lengthen the enrollment period. The legislation will allow Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to use her discretion to further stretch the period “if there are ongoing problems,” a Democratic aide said.

The bill will also delay the individual mandate’s enforcement mechanism, a $95 fine for individuals who do not sign for insurance, for as long as the enrollment period is extended.

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Shaheen was among a group of Democrats facing voters in 2014 who met with President Barack Obama on Wednesday over the health care law’s botched implementation. She called on Obama to extend the enrollment period, but said afterward she received “no resolution” from the president over her concerns about the deadline. Instead of waiting on the White House, she decided to move forward legislatively.

The New Hampshire senator is talking with other lawmakers about co-sponsoring the bill, which may prove attractive to Senate Democrats facing tough 2014 reelection contests and are trying to further distance themselves from Obamacare’s troubled rollout. Democratic Sens. Mark Pryor of Arkansas, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Kay Hagan of North Carolina and Mark Begich of Alaska have all endorsed Shaheen’s proposed extension of the enrollment period.

Several Senate Democrats have also backed further changes to the law. Landrieu unveiled legislation to allow Americans to keep their current health care plans and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) drafted legislation with Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) to delay Obamacare’s $95 fine for a year.

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