GOP Demands Lawmakers Pay More For Health Care

House and Senate Republicans want to end government-provided health care coverage to members of Congress, all their aides, presidential appointees and even the president and vice president.

That's the latest GOP condition on averting a government shutdown, and it's not likely to succeed.

Senate Democrats have rejected it, and President Barack Obama has issued a veto threat. The proposal would give about 18,000 people a pay cut of as much as $11,000. The government would continue to pay about three-fourths of the health care costs of the other 8 million or so federal employees who get their health insurance from the government.

Republican supporters say congressional and executive branch officials should not get special privileges. Opponents say the proposal is an unfair attack on some public servants, while sparing others.