Morning Bell: CBO Deals Another Crushing Blow to Obamacare
Posted July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am in Health Care 
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For the second time in less than two weeks, the independent and non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has dealt a crushing blow to President Barack Obama’s health care plans. First, on July 17th, CBO director Doug Elmendorf sent a letter to House Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel (D-NY), explaining that, in direct contradiction to President Obama’s promise that his health plan would not add “even one dime to our deficit over the next decade,” the House health plan would actually increase the budget deficit by $239 billion over ten years.
Reeling from this setback, the White House then put all of its cost-containing reform eggs in one basket: a massive transfer of power from Congress to the Executive branch in the form of an “Independent Medicare Advisory Council” (IMAC) that would be “the equivalent of a federal health board determining how health care was rationed for all seniors.”
But as draconian as that solution would be, the CBO again refused to toe the White House line. In a letter to Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Elmendorf writes:
The proposed legislation states that IMAC’s recommendations cannot generate increased Medicare expenditures, but it does not explicitly direct the council to reduce such expenditures nor does it establish any target for such reductions. … As proposed, the composition of the council could be weighted toward medical providers who might not be inclined to recommend cuts in payments to providers or significant changes to the delivery system. … In CBO’s judgment, the probability is high that no savings would be realized … CBO estimates that enacting the proposal, as drafted, would yield savings of $2 billion over the 2010–2019 period.
Just $2 billion! That would leave the House bill still $237 billion short of meeting Obama’s promise to not add a dime to the deficit over the next ten years. Put another way, that $2 billion in savings is two tenths of one percent of what Obama wants to spend on health care over the next ten years. Now Democrats are pushing back against the CBO, claiming the official scorekeeper just doesn’t understand how wonderful their cost containment schemes really are. One senior House leadership aide told The Hill: “At CBO, they are accountants, but we still have to make our case. They are doing their thing and we are doing ours.”
Now Americans may ask, just how accurate is the CBO when scoring the costs of health care reform? Does the CBO have a track record of underestimating how much new health care entitlements will cost? Or is the CBO too conservative, often overestimating new health care spending? Scholars at the CATO Institute went back and compared past CBO estimates on health care to actual spending numbers and found:
When Medicare was launched in 1965, Part A was projected to cost $9 billion by 1990, but ended up costing $67 billion. When Medicaid’s special hospitals subsidy was added in 1987, it was supposed to cost $100 million annually, but it already cost $11 billion by 1992. When Medicare’s home care benefit was added in 1988, it was projected to cost $4 billion in 1993, but ended up costing $10 billion.
History clearly shows that the costs of new heath care entitlements are routinely underestimated. And what would American be getting for their $2 billion in savings from IMAC? The Washington Post’s David Broder wrote yesterday:
But Congress will have to decide if it is willing to yield that degree of control to five unelected IMAC commissioners. And Americans will have to decide if they are comfortable having those commissioners determine how they will be treated when they are ill.
Huge cost estimates that are likely underestimated in exchange for a federal health board deciding the terms of your personal health care is not the reform people were expecting. But more importantly, if the Obama administration can’t trust a federal office to properly score their bill, how is it they trust a similar office to decide which medical treatments you receive?
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47 Responses to “Morning Bell: CBO Deals Another Crushing Blow to Obamacare”
Norm Terry, Viera FL on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
And as with all government savings they aren’t really savings at all. Just projections for spending less money than originally planned. This similar to my wife buying a $100 dress for $40. A savings of $60.00? Not really, it’s $40 spent that didn’t need to be spent in the first place… Norm
whicket williams Kingsbury tx on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
He is going to do this like a dictator if we do not stop him He must be impeached for sidestepping the checks and balances put in place to stop exactly this.
Darl Easton on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
Here’s my letter to the President regarding Healthcare.
Undisclosed
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Obama
Subject: Affordable Healthcare Act of 2009 – H.R. 3200
While your objective might be on target–it would be nice if all citizens had health insurance, I totally disagree with your tactics to achieve this.
This is not a COMMUNIST, nor a SOCIALIST country—but we are certainly trending that way under your guidance. This country became great because it focused on individual freedoms. Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness are the key elements of the Declaration of Independence.
Your tactics of STEALING, oops, Government taxation from one citizen to provide benefits, or health insurance, to another is to deny the victim his/her Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness.
May I suggest that you should first ASK your Most Wealthy supporters–that would be your good friends George Soros, Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, and Warren Buffet to establish the Liberal Foundation for the Medically Uninsured (LFMU). You could ASK (TAKE) several billions of dollars from each of them to get the foundation up and going. Then, I just know all your other supporters–the Multi-Millionaires amongst the Hollywood crowd, the NFL, the NBA, and even the statist in the Senate and House of Representative would all join the bandwagon to provide long term funding to the LFMU.
Of course these would all be voluntary contributions from your most staunch supporters. We certainly wouldn’t want to give anyone the impression that you were Forcefully Taking anything from them. As strong supporters of your “Redistribution of Wealth” policy, they all know they have far too much wealth, and will WILLING submit fifty (50) to sixty (60) PERCENT of the wealth to your cause. Besides, I’m sure you would give some very nice tax deduction for the charitable offerings.
Sincerely,
Jeannie, Deltona, FL on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
I have written to everyone I can think of and get patronizing responses that tell me they will do “what they think is best for us”. What the heck does that mean? THEY work for US!!! Can you imagine telling your boss that you will do the job YOU think is best, even if your boss is telling you otherwise? I think we should throw them out! Can you impeach your state councilmen and senators? I think we should ask for a “do-over”. I’m fed up! NO healthcare TAKE OVER!!!
Nelia, AZ on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
Out of curiosity, I checked Medicare history on the Web. Learned: Harry Truman sent a message to congress in 1945 for legislation to establish a national health insurance. In 1965 Congress put together the Medicare program. It went into effect in 1966 under the presidency of LBJ. At first Medicare was under the Social Security umbrella, but in 1977 was made part of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, enabling prescription drugs under Medicaid to be covered by Medicare.
I remember my mother-in-law being so angry when in 1965, their Blue Cross and Blue Shield that had worked perfectly well for them, was canceled and automatically they were put on Medicare. No choice – it was a done deal.
My in-laws were not wealthy — far from it. But after losing everyting during the depression (the Nebraska farm was taken in a major flood on the Republican River in 1935) they managed to keep body and soul together through hard work, paid their insurance premiums and were beholden to no one.I’ll never forget her lament about no choice in the matter.
Now we face a similar, even greater meddling by government. Government with the reputation of being extremely wasteful operators of business, now having the audacity of putting government even more in charge of our health and us with another freedom gone.
Medicare and Medicaid are known to be corrupt, wasting billions every year. When I tried to report some double billing a few years ago, the red tape involved with the process was enough to discourage my attempt to be a good citizen. The agencies are well aware fraud and corruption exist in the current programs. It seems incredible that rather than go to work and fix an existing program, they are trying to throw away what is probably the best health care on the planet for a new, even less efficient program that likely will preclude many of us as old people, the disabled, those afflicted with birth defects, etc. from even participating. And the baby boomers are right behind us.
Richard Cancemi, Arlington, Tx on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
Government Health Care is anything but caring for people’s health. It is about control of our lives and WE have to pay enormously for it.
Obama and his cadre do not have the “health” of the people in mind; they want “control”.
If one reads the proposals of the Bill, one can see this! It controls: what, when, and to whom treatment is given; it controls the type of treatment to be “allowed”; it even controls who shall live and who shall die! There is no goodness or compassion in this Bill. It is draconian to say the least, or perhaps monstrous is a better term!
ever4ready, La Quinta, CA on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
Obamacare is clearly an early death sentence for seniors.
Ken Jarvis – Las Vegas on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
Obama – ObamaCare will NOT ADD “even one dime to our deficit over the next decade,”
We MUST hold his feet to the fire on that one.
But we must work to get HCoverage Reform Passed.
matthew, queens, ny on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
Of course the cost of this new entitlement is going to be higher than projected.
This bill also will not pass as the House has written it. It is too complicated and too expensive. Also it will provide a backdoor for federal funding of abortions. In the end if the blue dog dems don’t kill it; will die in the Senate. If the dems were serious about reform they would fix medicare and medicaid first. Expand medicaid to allow the working poor who are uninsured to buy in. A small increase across the board in medicare taxes to help pay for those who want insurance but can’t afford it; might be the only fair way to pay for it. Do tort reform to stop all the frivolous lawsuits that drive up health costs. This at least could be a start and if it needs further adjustments then those needs can be looked into.
Steve, Michigan on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
No one seems to be focusing on the issue of Tenth Amendment powers. Without going into much detail, the Tenth Amendment reserves all but the enumerated Congressional powers (health care is not one of them) to the people and to the states. Yes, the courts have played fast and loose with this limitation, but it’s still there in the Constitution. When will our states draw the line and simply declare that they will not adopt or accept Federal mandates in the realm of health care? Let the states experiment! Then, we will have the ability to compare which ideas work and which don’t work. I think we’ll find out pretty quickly that central planning in health care does not work.
Proud citizen on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
Population control would no longer be a problem. Obamacare would eliminate the premature babies who would be to costly, and seniors would be too old for treatment and meds.
Why don’t we hear about citizens dying from no insurance?
In Wisconsin we have Badger care for low income/jobless persons.
ireland on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
Do these idiots make stuff up as they go along?. It’s now a stimulus bill? And that’s suppose to make us back it. When will life realities catch up with our politicians? I think they really believe that they are doing all this for us.
Arthur Lamb, Fairfax VA on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
The new “Final Solution” for senior health care costs: euthanasia.
Greg, alaska on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
Why not take a measly billion bucks and buy healthcare for the 27 million people who do not have it and save not only the best health care system in the world but a few Trillion dollars of wasteful spending.
The idiots in control of washington threw out their trillion dollar figure for the stimilus and did not even have an idea just how huge the sum of money is.
They have so much money, they have to actually work to spend it over the next ten years. The fact that they have not spent a tenth of it is not enough, now they want another trillion for a second stimilus and another trillion to “fix” the best health care system in the world.
We need to flush Washington, the District of Corruption is overflowing.
Thayer on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
I am so frustrated! What can we do? It seems like we are losing complete control…and our Country, which I have always thought was stronger than all the “mess-ups” our Congressmen and Senators could possible create….would recover and overcome their calculated mistakes for all the people, but this whirlwind of events is frighting me. We have to unite on all sides and work together for the future of this wonderful Country which has withstood many obstacles….are we outnumbered or not…united we stand….divided we fall! Please everyone lets let everyone know in Washington how we feel..and hope they listen to us for a change.
Barbara Cassel on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
I rec’d an email this morning regarding a website that has some very disturbing info on it and I would like to know if it is legit. The site is: It gives info that there is a plan afoot to take away the private property rights of Americans. Please let me know if this is so. If it is indeed true I will fight like a banshee to see that it is stopped. Thank so much for doing all that you do. God Bless America!
Barb Cassel
Evanston, WY 82930
JohnR, Michigan on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
Recent polls indicate voters are FAR more concerned about controlling costs than any other aspect of health care. The versions of Dem bills now being discussed do NOTHING to address the cost issue. This is why they’re dead on arrival.
The Dems need to get back to the drawing board and build a centrist bill that addresses cost at the #1 issue. And yeah…it means some higher taxes for the middle class and more aggressive rationing (just like europe/canada do it; they spend 1/3 per capita what we spend). So, let’s all grow up and face reality. And get those committees in the hands of the pragmatists and out of the hands of the ideologues.
A. Terranova, Ormond Beach, FL on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
In David Freddoso’s book, “The Case Against Barack Obama”, written during Mr. Obama’s presidential campaign and before he was elected, Mr. Freddoso writes: “When Barack Obama spoke on the Illinois’s born alive protection bill, he did not say
that a pre-viable baby is not a ‘person’. He argued, rather, that even though the state should perhaps provide care for
these babies, any recognition of their personhood would create unacceptable consequences.” In Obama’s own words:
‘There was some suggestion that we might be able to
craft something that might meet constitutional
muster with respect to caring for fetuses or children
who were delivered in this fashion (ALIVE).
Unfortunately, this bill goes a little bit further,
and so I just want to suggest, not that I think
it’ll make too much difference with respect to how
we vote, that this is probably not going to survive
constitutional scrutiny. Number one, whenever we
define a previable fetus (UNBORN CHILD) as a person
that is protected by the equal protection clause or
the other elements in the Constitution, what we’re
really saying is, in fact, that they are persons
that are entitled to the kinds of protections that
would be provided to a – a child, a nine-month-old -
child that was delivered to term. That determina-
tion then, essentially, if it was accepted by a
court, would forbid abortions to take place.’ (p.200)
It appears that Mr. Obama knew way back in 2001 what his plan would be for our future. He is a proponent of the “culture of death” from birth to death. For the record, science has concluded that a human embryo has ALL its DNA at the moment of conception. Now he wants to euthanize older Americans; it’s all in his health INSURANCE reform bill which he claims he didn’t read. Why do you think he wants unborn babies, people with disabilities, older citizens, etc., etc., etc. dead? Do you even have to think about why?
paul collins.the villages,fl. on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
Why would the congress vote on anything they don’t understand. That is nothing but stupidty! The only way to get decent bills passed is to make all future legislation cover all government officials from the President down.Three questions shuuld be asked. Will everyone be covered? Does that include the President and Congress? AND FINALLY WOULD SENATOR KENNEDY, WHO IS ALWAYS PUSHING FOR GOVERNMENT CONTROL,HAVE BEEN COVERED AS THE BILL IS CURRENTLY WRITTEN?
Concerned Citizen, NC on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
Maybe Congress should reflect on J. F. Kennedy’s words, “Don’t ask what your country (taxpayers) can do for you, but what YOU (elected officials) can do for your country (taxpayers).” Why don’t our elected officials do something that will benefit hard working, tax paying American citizens who pay their salaries, expense accounts, insurance, etc.? Are the President and other elected officials any better than the taxpayers of this great country? Why are they trying to push a failed health care reform in other countries on us, but the bills at which they are presently looking excludes them? If the health care reform is good enough for us who will be paying their private insurance, then it certainly is good enough for them. We, the people, should not suffer anymore with high taxes and cost of living because Congress and even our President do not do their job: they do not waste their time to read a bill in its entirety before they (Congress) vote, but will certainly waste taypayers’ money.
Also there is to be no discrimination among U.S. CITIZENS: how will we know that discrimination will not be a factor in gender, age, race, and even perhaps religious faith and political views under the government health care plan when the advisory board in Washington makes a decision about which people will receive extensive medical care? We, the people of this great nation, want our individual rights guaranteed under the Constitution which seems to have been put aside so that a few can have control over most aspects of our lives.
I have seen millions and billions of dollars in the Stimulus Package funded for unnecessary programs when people are losing their jobs and homes, but where is the money to create and save jobs? Why were large financial institutions bailed out, but CTI who lends to small businesses can’t get help from the government? How is wealth being spread when only the powerful and rich CEO’s get bailouts, large salaries and bonuses? If this continues, our government will be controlled by a handful of rich people whose objective is to become more powerful than they already are and have a two-class society, for the middle class will certainly disappear. Who has been the backbone of this country in producing jobs and instilling morals and values? The middle class!!!!! As the middle class disappears so do the morals, values, respect, and the dreams to better oneself with a code of hard work, integrity, honesty, and the desire to make our country better for the future generation.
I have written senators and representatives expressing the same sentiments as I have here. Is anyone in Congress listening because no one has responded significantly to any of the issues addressed?
MY SOLUTION:
I would like to relieve the Federal Government of one expense and transfer that expense to each individual state. Each state will pay the salary, expense account, health care insurance (of its choice), etc. of its elected officials to Washington. Each state will provide whatever it can afford or thinks is necessary for its elected officials.
Therefore, if the state of California wants to pay for Pelosi’s transportation back and from Washington to California in a private jet, it will be the taxpayers of California or Pelosi herself, not all Americans paying for her to use a jet owned by the government. The elected officials should vote on a bill according to the majority voice of his/her state or the district he represents. If the elected official doesn’t vote to represent his constituents, then s/he may be removed from his elected position after due process (determined amount of time….no longer than 60 days) by his state, and the second runner up with votes will take the office. Yes, Washington may be a revolving door for awhile, but eventually, our elected officials who are serious and sincere about preserving our Constitution will listen to the people they represent, and not be persuaded by lobbyists and other members of their party in the House and Senate. This may relieve a lot of pressure for the elected officials, and maybe the bills will be much shorter because there won’t be as much “you scratch my back, and I will scratch yours” with the added pork to persuade some senators and representatives to vote a certain way. The people’s voice will certainly be heard much louder than it is now. Yes, state income taxes may increase, but federal taxes should decrease because there will be less federal spending, and Congress will not have the power to vote themselves salary increases and life-long pensions; that will be determined by each state. The people will have more voice in the federal budget also. In reality, the president will become a figure head of the country, and the elected officials will be the messengers, and the people will rule!!!!!!!!!
Mike Sheahen, Hickory, North Carolina on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
The article, “CBO deals another crushing blow to Obamacare”, is filled with facts, which of course makes them what the so-called “Progressives (Left)” would rather deny, silence, and bury as that suits their government elitist and statist power and money-grabbing purpose and agenda.
That includes the fact of “Huge cost estimates that are likely underestimated in exchange for a federal health board deciding the terms of your personal health care is not the reform people were expecting”, and the fact that “But more importantly, if the Obama administration can’t trust (or more accurately won’t trust) a federal office to score their bill, how is it they trust a similar office to decide what medical treatments you receive?”
Just those two things really help reveal the vote-buying government elitist and statist power and money-grabbing so-called “Progressive (Left)” position, purpose, and agenda of Obama and his Comrades, which includes the following facts:
The fact is that Obama and his Comrades don’t really care what the people were expecting, but are instead (quote) “determined to get this (what they want to do) done, no matter what”, as they, including Obama himself, have already said about their government take-over of more than our healthcare, and the fact that Obama and his Comrades don’t trust anyone and anything, including another government office, ever even remotely found in opposition to them in any way, shape, manner, or form, to any degree.
Ultimately, such facts cause Obama and his Comrades to reveal how they will say and do anything to subvert, dismiss, deny, and bury anything and anyone, including our Constitution and anything or anyone else which or who would at all limit or oppose them, including our most personal and individual choices and relationships, such as those between us and our doctors, so that they, so-called “Progressives (Leftists)” such as Obama and his Comrades, can take control of our healthcare also as part of their government elitist and statist power and money-grabbing way and agenda.
Concerned Citizen, NC on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
WAKE UP AMERICANS!!
There is no transparency in this government, and the U.S. will no longer be recognizable as a Democracy. Is this the type of change and reform you wanted?
Lynn B. DeSpain on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
Thank God for “Blue Dog” Democrats! The Obama Administration and Congress, including our Liberal Media has also forgotten to tell us all that the, “New Federal Guidelines” for all Law Enforcement, say you cannot arrenst an Illegal Alien simply for being in this Country Illegally! How’s that for logic, can’t arrest someone for breaking a Federal Law!
Include with this, that upwards of 20 million Illegals would immediately qualigy for Obama’s new ‘Health Care”.
Hozro
John, Arizona on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
Paul collins: Sir Ted Kennedy EXPTRESSLY EXCLUDED members of congress from the Obamacare healthecare bill. As usual, the congresspersons take care of themselves first. Isn’t it time to rid ourselves of these hypocrits?
Tim Johnson on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
Once again the moronic American conservatives are at it; they are so blind that they actually think their costly and socially restrictive medical system is “the best in the world”. What a joke, the fools don’t have clue about anything in the rest of the non-American world.
Dennis A. Social Circle Ga. on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
The “guvernment” has never done anything that saved money or stayed within the budget. There are to many fingers in the cookie jar to allow this to happen. The dems and obama are determined to ram this through Congress and create a socialist style medical health care program. Look at all the countries that have this and see what has happened to these countries, not to mention how the care is rationed to people.
America needs to wake up. Go to the nearest VA hospital and see if you want your family treated like the vets are. The needed care is put off due to the lack of money or the age of the person needing the care. Yes I am a vet, and am speaking from experience on this subject.
Jim@Redding,CA on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
Before too long it will be obvious to any
sane person that only God will be able to
right the wrongs being done by Obama to
destroy America. Once you get that figured out, the next step won’t be too
tough to figure out: Ask His forgiveness
for our sins against Him over these past
several decades, and that He will intervene on our behalf to end the oppres-
sion and evil being done by our current
government.
OR you can continue your useless whining
and complaining over all these issues for
which there is no answer in any terms you
could ever hope to employ in this world
under your own power. Do you actually
imagine you have ANY ability to stop what
is going on?
Seek God and trust Him to sort it all out.
Concerned Citizen, NC on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
Every Congressman should be voted out of office next election who votes for a failed health care reform that excludes Congress, President, and others in Washington covered by private insurance at the taxpayers’ expense. If the health care reform is not good enough for them, then they should buy their own insurance. The people elected them to their positions, the people can remove them. What has happened to the
U.S. CONSTITUTION that protects individual rights?
Concerned Citizen, NC on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
It has taken decades to try unsuccessfully to reform our health care. Why now, does it have to be pushed on Americans without every Congress member and citizens having the time to read the bill? Let’s give Congress and our President a year since they are slow readers to read the bill and make necessary changes re: costs and health care for all Americans including the President down with no advisory board making my health care decisions either. Post the bill on the internet for people to read for at least one month. Place the health care form bill on the ballots in 2010 and allow the people to vote. At least give the people their Constitutional rights!!!
Concerned Citizen, NC on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
A health care advisory committee appointed by the government is not necessary…..just another increase in taxes to pay their salaries and INSURANCE. I have more faith in my personal physician to advise me when hospice is needed. Will the advisory committee respect my living will which was prepared by my attorney and is a legal document????????????
Concerned Citizen, NC on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
If the proposed health care bill is similar to the one of our elected officials, then why aren’t they willing to be covered by their own proposed bill? I think Obama omitted a few NECESSARY details as he often does in his townhall meeting. We, the taxpayers, will be forced to have inferior health care why we pay for Cong’s., President’s, and his administration’s private insurance which will be far better than what they are offering us!!!!!!
Concerned Citizen, NC on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
As a retired state worker, my insurance is presently paid by the state, and I am perfectly satisfied with it. What guarantees are there that the state will not drop its employees’ insurance and force them to take the gov’t’s plan to save the state money or force the employees to pay for private ins.? Many state employees will be forced to take the gov’t’s plan because it will be the only plan they can afford. Then we will have to pay for our own insurance which will be inferior to Congress, Pres., and administration, but we will have to pay taxes so they can keep their private insurance!!! How fair is that????? Is the contract between the state and its present employees and retirees grandfathered in???
J. White, south Jersey farmer/retired college professor on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
Wow! A government agency which actually deals with reality? Incredible.
They have it correct; and, may their words stay any wholesale endorsement of this disgusting attempt to destroy this nation and make it into a totally useless socialist state.
There is no such thing as a free lunch; and, the professional poor of this nation should be forced to get out and work for their food and shelter.
To think that I and others are going to be forced to bankroll these useless people? Their only useful aspect is their vote for the socialists.
I pray, yes, “PRAY”- although praying is frowned upon by too many would-be secular fools, that the CBO’s words carry the day. Despite the Fraud’s trying to “convince” them in the CBO of making other numbers? Just who does this person think he is? Or are we going to see yet another debacle as with the Inspector General who caught ther Fraud’s “good Buddy” stealing funds? Hope the CBO folks have a backbone- I’d gladly lend them mine.
We got rid of a king some 200+ years ago, and it is time to get rid of this one as soundly and as embarrassingly to him in 2012.
randy wright, nashville, tn on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
Is this administration covering up some form of
mental incapacity that has befallen Joe Biden since he has candidated for and become vice president of the US? No public figure has ever
made a fraction of the incompetent, anti-intellectual statements that this man has made in public! Something has to be wrong with him mentally. No informed, educated, normal person could keep on making the mistakes he is making on a regular basis! How will this administration deal with “covering him up” or removing him if he continues his bizare behavior?
randy wright, nashville, tn on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
just print my previous comments about Joe Biden and quit being politically correct!!!
Mary B, Mississippi on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
I feel like my liberty and life (yes my life) are being stolen from me. Is this really America? Could have fooled me…hopefully there is time and adequate opposition to STOP the insanity going on with health care reform and the economy.
If not we will be living a socialistic life with euthanasia as a “cost control” process. Again, is this really America?
Concerned Citizen, NC on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
Congress is free to keep their health care insurance paid for by the taxpayers of this country who pay their salaries and business accounts. If employers drop their employees, can we the taxpayers stop paying Congressmen’s, President’s, Vice President’s, Cabinet’s, etc insurance?
Concerned Citizen, NC on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
Maybe, we the taxpayers, should not pay our taxes next April as many in Washington don’t. Who then, Pres., V Pres, Cong., Cabinet, etc will pay your salaries so you can afford the best insurance?
Concerned Citizen, NC on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
Cash for clunkers is another waste of taxpayers’ money. Chrysler is now giving $4500 as well as govt for trade-ins….$9000. Many who are taking advantage of this are people who will not be able to make monthly payments so the bank will repossess……same thing with govt. pushing people to buy homes they couldn’t afford……the reason the country is in the finanicial mess it is…..foreclosures and repossessions. Those who can make monthly payments probably could have afforded the car without assistance anyway but using the system. WHY WASN’T THIS MONEY PUT ASIDE FOR U.S. PEOPLE WHO DON’T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE?
Why are the hard working taxpayers of this country always being penalized for the wastefulness and negligence (enforce immigration laws) of our govt and for people who try to live beyond their means?
The US citizens should not be held responsible to pay taxes for illegal immigrants’ health care? Some illegal immigrants are hard working people and have jobs. When they become a legal citizen of the U.S., then they should have the opportunity to BUY their own insurance. Some of the illegal immigrants are terrorists, drug dealers, etc…….and taxpayers are suppose to pay their insurance??????
Concerned Citizen, NC on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
How many businesses pay their employees’s health care, business expenses, travel expenses back & forth to work, and also allow their employees to vote for higher salary increases? I don’t know of any.
Does our government realize it is the people’s employees? Why can they vote themselves salary increases, have paid ins. which is far better than most of its employers, and have the right to dictate to us, their employers, who will benefit from medical care? It will not only be the senior citizens who will receive second-rate care, but possibly those with severe mental and physical handicaps…..THINK PEOPLE, where does the discrimination end? Will only the rich, the pretty, the intelligent, the thin, etc. be the ones who will receive the best medical care affordable? Will this discrimination even extend to one’s political belifs and one’s religious beliefs? If our health care is taken away from us as individuals, then this administration can have complete control over each aspect of our lives.
Concerned Citizen, NC on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
Most of our elected officials from the President down to Congress do not have the time to read bills on which they vote.
I am asking citizens to read the following novels…if you do not have time to read all three, maybe three friends could each select one novel and give a detailed summary over coffee or beer.
Since time is of great importance, I implore all of you to at least read a summary of each on the internet…….will not take more than 30 minutes to an hour.
THESE WORKS WILL GIVE YOU AN INSIGHT TO OUR VERY NEAR FUTURE IF THIS ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES ON THE FAST TRACK IT HAS TAKEN SINCE JANUARY 2009.
1984 by George Orwell
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Animal Farm by George Orwell (Read this last)
Concerned Citizen, NC on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
From the Declaration of Independence
“…they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among those are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Where is an individual’s Rights when he is being pushed into a government controlled health care program where an advisory board will determine the extent of his medical care and not the individual under the guidance of his physician for his own health welfare?
Where is the individual’s Liberty if his health care insurance is dropped by his employer, and he is forced into the government’s plan because he can’t afford private insurance which he had before the government interferred?
Where is the individual’s right to the pursuit of Happiness when the government controls one’s most precious gift…life?
The Declaration further states that Governments derive their powers from the
“Consent of the governed,– That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying the foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.” etc
In no way am I suggesting an overthrow of our government, but to emphasize that our Government should derive its powers from the “CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED.” CONGRESS SHOULD LISTEN TO ITS CONSTITUENTS, NOT TO THE PARTY LEADERS OF THE PARTY WHICH THEY BELONG AND CERTAINLY NOT TO THE LOBBYISTS. THE PEOPLE TRUSTED THE ELECTED OFFICIALS TO REPRESENT THEM! THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN AND ADVISED AND CONGRESS SHOULD CONSENT.
Concerned Citizen, NC on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
Medicare is broke. Medicaid is broke. Social Security is broke. Cash for clunkers is broke (less than a month).
Our president says a police officer who is performing his duties acted stupidly!!
Maybe our government has acted stupidly; it seems all the programs of which they are in charge are broke!!!!
Maybe if the government had performed its duties as thoroughly as the police officer, those programs would not be broke. WHERE WAS THE OVERSIGHT FOR WASTEFULNESS AND ABUSE OF THOSE GOVERNMENT-RUN PROGRAMS?
Why do individuals want the government to be in charge of their health care?
Concerned Citizen, NC on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
Whether Democract, Republican, Independent, etc., I urge all to go to the website Independence Caucus and listen to the videos (Articles). You will then understand the power of big business more and the power of the lobbyists in Washington over most elected officials. http://www.ourcaucus.com/index.html
Concerned Citizen, NC on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
We need a code of ethics for our government. They should only provide services to the people and not to the lobbyists. Please go to the following site http://www.ourcaucus.com/index.html
and also support H.R.450
http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h450/text
Concerned Citizen, NC on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
Under the bill H.R.450 – Enumerated Powers Act
http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h450/text…you can tract your state’s senators and house of reps. campaign donations by big businesses/lobbyists….who is being served in Washington….the people or big businesses?????
Concerned Citizen, NC on July 27th, 2009 at 9:38am said:
Political parties are more united than divided since most campaigns are funded by special interest groups. The special interest groups get what they want at the taxpayers’ expense since they give money to all parties. There is no longer any checks and balances since the lobbyists are the ones represented, not the people.
Gov’t acts irresponsible when spending is increased and there is a deficit budget. All earmark spending should be debated In Tandem.