July 16, 2009 | House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) | Permalink
The
health care “reform” plan being pushed by the Democrats in charge of
Washington will significantly increase health care costs for Americans,
the Director of the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO),
Douglas Elmendorf, testified today before the Senate Budget Committee.
He repeated his statement
before the House Ways & Means Committee as well. The rising cost
of health care is Americans’ number-one concern when it comes to health
care reform. Democrats have long claimed that their government
takeover would lower health care costs, but as the below media reports
highlight, that talking point is pure fiction:
- “Congressional
Budget Office Director Douglas Elmendorf warned lawmakers the
legislation that he has seen so far would raise costs, not lower them.
Elmendorf was asked by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad,
D-N.S., if the bills Congress is considering would ‘bend the cost
curve.’ The budget director responded: ‘The curve is being raised.’” – “House Democrats Set to Vote on Health Care Bill,” Associated Press, July 16, 2009
- “The
health care overhauls released to date would increase, not reduce, the
burgeoning long-term health costs facing the government, Congressional
Budget Office Director Douglas Elmendorf said Thursday...’In the
legislation that has been reported, we do not see the sort of
fundamental changes that would be necessary to reduce the trajectory of
federal health spending by a significant amount and, on the contrary,
the legislation significantly expands the federal responsibility for
health care costs,’ he said.” – “CBO Chief: Health Bills to Increase Federal Costs,” Congressional Quarterly, July 16, 2009
- “Instead
of saving the federal government from fiscal catastrophe, the health
reform measures being drafted by congressional Democrats would worsen
an already bleak budget outlook, increasing deficit projections and
driving the nation more deeply into debt, the director of the
nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said this morning...’On the
contrary,’ Elmendorf said, ‘the legislation significantly expands the
federal responsibility for health care costs.’” – “CBO Chief Criticizes Democrats’ Health Reform Measures,” Washington Post, July 16, 2009
- “Here’s
a blow to President Obama and Democrats pressing health care reform.
One of the main arguments made by the President and others for
investing in health reform now is that it will save the federal
government money in the long run by containing costs. Turns out that
may not be the case, according to Doug Elmendorf, director of the
nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Answering questions from
Democrat Kent Conrad of North Dakota at a hearing of the Senate Budget
Committee today, Elmendorf said CBO does not see health care cost
savings in either of the partisan Democratic bills currently in
Congress.” – “CBO Sees No Federal Cost Savings in Dem Health Plans,” ABC News, July 16, 2009
- “The
Congressional Budget Office has made that job even harder by refusing
to acknowledge changes in the bill that, Democrats argue, would save
the government even more money, like a pledge from drug makers to pony
up $30 billion to close a coverage gap under Medicare. ‘In the
legislation that has been reported we do not see the sort of
fundamental changes that would be necessary to reduce the trajectory of
federal health spending by a significant amount,’ CBO Director Douglas
Elmendorf said. ‘And on the contrary, the legislation significantly
expands the federal responsibility for health care costs.’” – “Pelosi Open to Reducing Surtax,” Politico, July 16, 2009
- “Douglas
Elmendorf, director of the Congressional Budget Office, told the Senate
Budget committee today the legislation he has seen so far lacks the
‘fundamental changes’ that would significantly lower health-care
spending.” – “Pelosi Says ‘High-End’ Tax Surcharge May be Reduced,” Bloomberg, July 16, 2009
- “CBO
Director Douglas Elmendorf told lawmakers on the Senate Budget
Committee earlier Thursday morning that legislation approved this week
by a Senate panel wouldn’t reduce the federal government’s spending on
health care. ‘And on the contrary, the legislation significantly
expands the federal responsibility for health care costs,’ Mr.
Elmendorf said.” – “Senate Leaders Clash with CBO Head on Health Care Reform,” Wall Street Journal, July 16, 2009
- “The
health reform bills released so far would increase government spending
on health care without sufficiently reining in health care costs. And
at least initially they aren’t likely to significantly lower premiums
for the majority of Americans with employer-sponsored health
insurance. That’s the sobering takeaway from testimony Thursday by
Congressional Budget Office Director Douglas Elmendorf... ‘The creation
of a new subsidy for health insurance ... would by itself raise federal
spending on health care. ... [T]o offset that there have to be
substantial reductions (on the tax or spending sides of the ledger],’
Elmendorf told the Senate Budget Committee. ‘The changes we’ve looked
at so far don’t represent the fundamental change on the order of
magnitude that would be necessary.’” – “CBO: Health Reform Bills Won’t Reduce Costs,” CNN, July 16, 2009
House Republicans have said repeatedly that the Democrats’ plan would
increase costs, rather than lower them, and today’s testimony confirms
that. House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) reacted to
Elmendorf’s warning today in a statement:
| “Americans
are concerned about the rising costs of health care, but instead of
alleviating those fears, the Democrats government takeover will drive
health care costs even higher. The Director of the Congressional
Budget Office today confirmed that the Democrats’ government-run plan
will make health care more costly than ever, making clear that one of
the Democrats’ chief talking points is pure fiction. Are Democrats in
Congress listening? Is the President listening? Americans pay too
much for health care already. Why should Washington consider a plan
that will force them to pay even more?” |
A Gallup poll
released this week confirmed that Americans’ top goal for health care
reform is helping families deal with soaring costs for health care.
Are Democrats ready to stop pushing their $1.5 trillion government
takeover of health care? Or will they run roughshod over the American
people and move forward with this costly plan that will raise health
care costs in America even further? |
| GOPLEADER.GOV
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