After a sneak-through Saturday night vote to make Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s health care bill open for debate, the Senate comes back on Monday to decide how much more involvement the federal government will have over the private health care sector — one-sixth of the nation’s overall economy. With a record-breaking 2,074 pages, there are plenty of provisions in the Senate health care bill that most Americans probably aren’t aware of. Here are some of the highlights that Heritage has noted in the past week:
- The Senate bill breaks President Barack Obama’s promise not to impose new taxes on middle-class Americans.
- The legislation allows feds to micromanage all private health insurance plans.
- The bill creates the health exchange framework that allows for a government-run health plan to overtake the health insurance market.
- Its 20-year costs are more in the $4.9 trillion price range once you cut through the budget gimmicks.
- The Reid health bill leaves businesses, especially small businesses, out of the picture.
- The legislation’s employer and individual mandates use taxes to punish uninsured Americans and companies that hire workers from low-income families.
- The bill’s eight pages regarding abortion policies include language that fosters coverage of elective abortions and diminishes the right of insurers that don’t want to cover elective abortions.
Keep in mind this is just the initial analysis. As amendments are offered and more provisions unearthed, Americans can expect to hear about greater liberties Congress is taking with regards to the public’s health decision-making powers.
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Great, short review, very helpful.
I was struck by the writer's name. Any relation to the great war reporter, the late Maggie Higgins, KIA in Vietnam in 1966?
When is anyone going to expose the fact that Andrew L. Stern is the main force driving health care reform. Both the Senate (HR3590) and House (HR3200)versions appear to have been written by SEIU attorneys or staff. Both proposals are full of "above administrative and judicial review" statements – which gives unconditional control over every detail and every person in the entire health care industry. In addition, SEIU receives $10,000,000,000? Why? Not one Senator or House member had anything to do with these bills?
Under the Freedom of Information Act US citizens have a right to know who wrote these bills! The whole process going on is so ridiculus because it has nothing to do with health care but everything to do with SEIU!
Every politician who votes for either of these bills should be removed from office, arrested, and tried for child abuse and domestic terrorism!
This whole health care reform is just one big SEIU scam.
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