ACA implementation delay angers D.C. Dems

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WASHINGTON, April 6 (UPI) -- Some U.S. Senate Democrats are criticizing President Barack Obama for delays in implementing popular portions of the Affordable Care Act.

Democrats who supported the measure -- particularly ones who hail from states that lean Republican -- said it will be more difficult to defend the overall healthcare overhaul in the 2014 elections if the parts people like haven't been implemented before people vote, The Hill reported Saturday.

Democrats are particularly upset that small businesses will only have one insurance option to provide to employees when a major selling point for the business community was increased competition and choice the law would provide, the report said.

Small businesses aren't expected to have more than one option until 2015.

Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., already facing an uphill battle for re-election, said the implementation of so-called Obamacare is problematic.

In a rare instance of a Senate Democrat criticizing Obama president publicly, she told The New York Times the failure to fully implement the law will "prolong and exacerbate health care costs that are crippling 29 million small businesses."