The nonpartisan Government Accountability Office has issued a report on a program being run by the Obama administration that stretches the law, in order to cover up the cuts in Medicare funding under ObamaCare until after the election. Stephen Dinan of the Washington Times reports:

Congress's non-partisan investigators said Wednesday President Obama is stretching the law to give bonuses to mediocre private Medicare plans - an $8 billion program the auditors had already urged the administration to cancel.

In a pointed letter, the Government Accountability Office's chief lawyer said the administration hasn't shown that it can learn anything by a "demonstration" project to pay bonuses to average-performing Medicare Advantage plans. The lawyer questioned "the agency's legal authority to undertake the demonstration." (snip)

"Lacking the legal authority to undertake a project of this magnitude shows how the Obama administration tried to use a technicality to sidestep Congress and write itself a blank check to spend more money for political purposes leading into this year's elections," said Mr. Hatch, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, who has been keeping a close eye on the matter.

In addition to the attempt to fool voters about the Medicare cuts, the program stands as a symbol of liberal thinking: giving performance bonuses to average performers. Call the Lake Woebegon Strategy: all the programs that spend money are above average and deserve bonuses.

Keep in mind that our tax money is being spent to provide political cover for ObamaCare until after the election. Unfortunately, there is not much we can do about this lawlessness beyond voting Obama out.

On Wednesday, Sen. Orrin G. Hatch of Utah said GAO's letter proves the administration is trying an illegal work-around to try to prop up Medicare plans so nobody's coverage is cut at a politically critical time.

Hat tip: Richard Baehr