The Senate Health Bill: Ordinary Americans Have Been Warned

The Heritage Foundation ^ | March 17, 2010 | Richard Sherwood

[myknowledge]

As the House of Representatives prepares for a final round of debate on the health care legislation, ordinary Americans must grasp the huge impact on the future of the country. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is pulling out all the stops to get the 216 votes needed to pass the Senate health bill, H.R. 3590 (PDF). The Speaker is also promising to fix the Senate bill’s many objectionable components later through the budget reconciliation process, parliamentary rules normally used to reconcile tax and spending provisions with the annual congressional budget resolution.

Meanwhile, the House leadership is also reportedly pursuing the controversial “Slaughter Rule,” in which the entire Senate bill be “deemed” to have passed the House without an “up or down” vote on the Senate language.

Regardless of whatever procedural shenanigans the House leadership tries to play, the end result would be enactment of the Senate health bill as the law of the land. That’s the end game. Period.

In a recent analysis, Heritage’s Kathryn Nix and Bob Moffit examine the consequences of policies embodied in the Senate bill. It would have enormous consequences for jobs, the economy, and the health care of every American. For example, it:

• Bends the Cost Curve Up: The Senate bill is projected to further increase the cost of health care. According to the latest report (PDF) by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the bill would increase health care spending by $210 billion over the next ten years.Provisions in the bill such as federal regulations on insurers and taxes on medical devices and prescription drugs distort health care markets by creating the wrong economic incentives.
• Increases the Federal Deficit: The Senate leadership used accounting tricks and budgetary gimmicks to claim that the Senate Bill is “deficit neutral.” However, when government outlays and revenue collection are considered together in a 10-year period, Medicare cuts are not double-counted, and the “doc fix” is included, the bill will substantially increase the deficit, with an overall cost of approximately $2.3 trillion.
• Expands Medicaid: The bill calls for an expansion of Medicaid, an already-inefficient entitlement program. Heritage analysis has shown that Medicaid expansion is costly, and yet failures to meet the health care needs of its beneficiaries.
• Imposes additional costs on insurance: New federal regulations will include a minimum medical loss ratio, an excise tax on high-cost insurance plans, and federally defined benefits. These provisions would increase premiums
• Invites Insurance Market Instability: The combination of an individual mandate and the requirement of insurance companies to guarantee coverage regardless of preexisting conditions invites instability in health insurance markets. Younger and healthier Americans are likely to pay the cheaper mandate penalty rather than purchase a more costly health plan. The end result would be a “death spiral” with only sick people comprising the risk pool—causing a substantial increase in premiums
• Creates Incentives for Employers to Drop Group Insurance Plans: The structure of the employer mandate creates incentives for firms that hire a large percentage of low-income workers to drop health insurance all together.
• Discriminates Against Low Income Workers: Employers would be required to pay a $3000 fine for each low-income employee that opts out of the employer coverage and into the state government exchanges. This creates incentives for employers to discriminate against workers from low income families when hiring
• Creates New Inequities Among Employees: Because eligibility for subsidies in state government exchanges is determined by family income, employees making the same wage can receive vastly different enumerations based on family size and the spouse’s income. The lower the income of the entire family, the greater the amount of federal assistance an employee will receive relative to another with higher family size and/or income.
• Creates an Uneven Playing Field for Private Insurance: The legislation requires the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to sponsor two health plans that would compete nationwide against private health plans in the state insurance exchanges. This could create a de facto public option, with separate rules on benefits, profits, and medical loss ratios Ultimately, this separate treatment under the rules could work against private plans that compete with government-sponsored plans. Worse, there is always a danger of dunning taxpayers to bailout the OPM-administered plans.
• Taxes the Middle Class: Contrary to President Obama’s campaign promises to add no new taxes to the middle class, the bill calls for several taxes that would hit the middle class, including but not limited to an excise tax on high cost insurance plans taxes on medical devices and prescription drugs and a tax on investment income included in the President’s proposal, which would presumably be included by reconciliation.
• Penalizes Marriage: The structure of health insurance subsidies are inequitable, offering more financial assistance to non-married couples than married couples with comparable incomes.

The Senate health bill fails to address many of the underlying deficiencies in health care, while it concentrates power in the hands of government officials. Contrary to what the president keeps insisting, it is indeed a federal takeover of health care.

Rick Sherwood currently is a member of the Young Leaders Program at the Heritage Foundation. For more information on interning at Heritage, please visit: http://www.heritage.org/About/Internships-Young-Leaders/The-Heritage-Foundation-Internship-Program

[myknowledge]

The truth of ObamaCare has been revealed for America to see.

ObamaCare deserves a righteous death before it is enacted.

[Defiant]

How about Republicans commit that if they get the majority, not a penny will be appropriated for the government until the bill is repealed. How long can Obama hold out?

Nah, the RINOs would cave after 3 days, like Bob Dole's baby brother.

[onyx]

BTTT.

Damn every last one who votes or deems it to passage.

[mlocher]

Excellent analysis.

[jwparkerjr]

re: the RINOs would cave after 3 days

Like when they had Clinton's back to the wall with the government shut down? That was certainly a low point in the history of the Republicans.

I've been watching politics for a long time and damned if I can remember a bill that would be as disastrous for America as this one would be if it gets passed.

I wonder if some of the ones who claim to be undecided know full well they'll vote ‘no’ but just want to save themselves the hell they would get if they ‘fessed up to it. They know they'll take a lot of heat if they say now they won't vote for it. Better to act undecided and put off the backlash for as long as possible.

This year under Obama, Reid, and Pelosi has certainly been a debacle. You can certainly tell they've lost all fear of being voted out of office. Time for them to get an industrial strength lesson as to who's in charge!

[GailA]

This is from a 2007 contact list of congressional aides. Some might not be there any longer, but worth a try. The ones on the one post are senate aides, a few have bounced back, it’s worth the effort to clog up their email system along with the phones, and 1/3rd of these senators are up for re-election.

Contact congressional aides.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1857768/posts

U.S. Senate switchboard: (202) 224-3121
U.S. House switchboard: (202) 225-3121
White House comments: (202) 456-1111
Find your House Rep.: http://www.house.gov/writerep
Find your US Senators: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Toll free to the US Senate:
1-800-882-2005. (Spanish number)
1-800-417-7666. (English number)
Courtesy of a pro-amnesty group, no less!!

Defeat Obamacare call list: List now contains the new MAYBES culled from FR posts. Be sure to call KNOWN RINOS too.THEY ARE ANSWERING THEIR LOCAL NUMBERS
Here is one of the ones Rush gave out on the radio that I’m calling. So far it’s been busy but I’m going to burn it up till I get to tell my congress critter to vote NO!
Join me?..... 1-877-762-8762

KEEP THE CALLS UP! DC OFFICE LOCAL OFFICE

CODE RED Contact list http://www.nrcc.org/CodeRed/targets/

Remember they are all being offered BRIBES for their votes. Ask them how much their bribe price is.
The National Republican Congressional Committee has published a target list on health care. In addition to continuing to contact the five Tennessee Democrat Congressmen, you can go http://www.votervoice.net/link/clickthrough/ext/94697.aspx to contact some of these targets. Much of the talk following Obama’s announcement has focused on how to defeat this second bill through reconciliation, but that is misleading because the first step to defeating Obamacare is not by concentrating on defeating the “fixer” bill but by defeating the Senate bill in the House when it goes to the floor for an up-or-down vote on Thursday, March 18th.
New FLIPPERS

Dennis Kucinish, Lakewood 216)228-8850, Fax (216)228-6465,
Parma. 440)845-2707, Fax (440)845-2743, DC (202)225-5871
Fax (202)225-5745
James Oberstar (202) 225-6211, Duluth (218) 727-7474, Chisholm (218) 254-5761, Brainerd (218) 828-4400, North Branch, (651) 277-1234
Gabrielle Giffords (202) 225-2542 (520) 881-3588 AZ 8th District

Rep. Lincoln Davis 202-225-6831 Columbia office: 931-490-8699
Rep. Jim Cooper 202-225-4311 Nashville office: 615-736-5295
Rep. Bart Gordon 202-225-4231 Murfreesboro office: 615-896-1986
John Tanner (202) 225-4714, Union City, (731) 885-7070, Jackson Phone: (731) 423-4848, Millington (901) 873-5690 TN (MAYBE)
Rep. Steve Cohen 202-225-3265 Memphis office: 901-544-4131
Harry Mitchell (202) 225-2190 (480) 946-2411 AZ 5th District
Ann Kirkpatrick (202) 225-2315 (928) 226-6914 AZ 1st District
Jerry McNerney (202) 225-1947 925-833-0643 CA 11th District
John Salazar 202-225-4761 970-245-7107 CO 3rd District
Jim Himes (202) 225-5541 (866) 453-0028 CT 4th District
Alan Grayson (202) 225-2176 (407) 841-1757 FL 8th District
Bill Foster (202) 225-2976 630-406-1114 IL 14th District
Baron Hill 202 225 5315 812 288 3999 IN 9th District
Mark Schauer (202) 225-6276 (517) 780-9075 MI 7th District
Gary Peters (202) 225-5802 (248) 273-4227 MI 9th District
Dina Titus (202) 225-3252 702-256-DINA (3462) NV 3rd District
Carol Shea-Porter (202) 225-5456 (603) 743-4813 NH 1st District
Tim Bishop (202) 225-3826 (631) 696-6500 NY 1st District
John Hall (202) 225-5441 (845) 225-3641 x49371 NY 19th District
Bill Owens (202) 225-4611 (315) 782-3150 NY 23rd District
James Matheson Toll-Free Number 1 (877) 677-9743 (202) 225-3011Mike Arcuri (202)225-3665 (315)793-8146 NY 24th District
Dan Maffei (202) 225-3701 (315) 423-5657 NY 25th District
Earl Pomeroy (202) 225-2611 (701) 224-0355 ND At-Large District
Steven Driehaus (202) 225-2216 (513) 684-2723 OH 1st District
Mary Jo Kilroy (202) 225-2015 (614) 294-2196 OH 15th District
Zach Space (202) 225-6265 (330) 364-4300 OH 18th District
Kathy Dahlkemper (202) 225-5406 (814) 456-2038 PA 3rd District
Patrick Murphy (202) 225-4276 (215) 826-1963 PA 8th District
Christopher Carney (202) 225-3731 (570) 585-9988 PA 10th District
Paul Kanjorski (202) 225-6511 (570) 825-2200 PA 11th District
John Spratt (202) 225-5501 (803)327-1114 SC 5th District
Tom Perriello (202) 225-4711 (276) 656-2291 VA 5th District
Alan Mollohan (202) 225-4172 (304) 623-4422 WVA 1st District
Nick Rahall (202) 225-3452 (304) 252-5000 WVA 3rd District
Steve Kagen (202) 225-5665 (920) 437-1954 WI 8th District
Bart Stupak (202) 225 4735 MI (MAYBE)
Brian Baird (202) 225-3536, Vancouver, (360) 695-6292. Olympia, (360) 352-9768, (MAYBE)
senator mark begich (202) 224-3004 toll free. (877) 501 - 6275 just became a MAYBE
Jason Altmire 202-225-2565, Aliquippa, 724-378-0928,
Natrona Heights, 724-226-1304 (MAYBE)

On the Bubble (Major developments from the “yes” and “no” columns in the House)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2467046/posts

Congressional Dems on Twitter
http://www.arrghpaine.com/congressional-dems-on-twitter
And here are toll-free numbers we can use to call any Senators or Reps.

At the first number below you must wait through a tape recording urging you to tell your Rep or Senator to vote “yes” for the health care bill. Just hang on and when the recording is over, you will get the Capitol operator. Just ask for your Rep or Senator’s office. Then you will either talk to an aid or have the chance to leave a message for him/her to vote NO on the health care bill.

When you use the second number and the Capitol operator comes on, just ask for your Rep or Senator’s office. Every time I use this number I get the Rep or Senator’s answer machine, so it may be set up that way all the time...to go to their answer machine. Either way you can leave a message to vote NO on the health care bill!

We need to use these toll free numbers that have been set up for the health care/ BO supporters and illegals to use! After all they are FREE!

1-866-220-0044, 1-866-338-1015, 877-851-6437, 877-210-5351

[blackbart.223]

"How about Republicans commit that if they get the majority, not a penny will be appropriated for the government until the bill is repealed."

Brilliant strategy. If Republicans take The House then they hold the purse strings. Do they have the balls to do what you suggest. I doubt it.

[PA-RIVER]

States have begun to vomit this wretched bill of bribes. The Law Suits hit the ground running the day the Kenyan scumbag bribe-master signs it. Impeachment surely awaits the royal dirtbag.

[syriacus]

We never should have elected a president who spent his formative school years in a foreign country with a mother who didn’t even want to spend time with Americans.

Obama can’t relate to ordinary Americans who cherish their liberty above all.

[Ditto]

"How about Republicans commit that if they get the majority, not a penny will be appropriated for the government until the bill is repealed." --- Brilliant strategy.

Stupid strategy. Do you want to cut funding for the DoD when we are in two wars or cut off SS checks to 80-year old retirees? The Rats would let you do that and then beat you over the head with it.

Remember the Government 'shutdown" in '96? Clinton engineered that and played it like a master, and Newt and the Republicans walked right into his 'Brier Patch'.

You are not dealing with people who give a sh** about anything but maintaining power. They are perfectly willing as Marx said the "break eggs" to make their omelet.

Think smarter.

[Anima Mundi]

This may be crazy or impossible, but it would be delicious. What if a HUGE number of snowbirds or people living on the road would declare Pelosi’s district as their domicile in time to be voting residents for her next election? If not this, is there some way to get these people who are in safe districts out of there? It would be so wonderful to see her voted out.

[blackbart.223]

"Remember the Government 'shutdown" in '96?"

Reagan shut the government down in the eighties and forced the democrats into a corner. What is your proposal? acquiescence? You start thinking "smarter".

[OldGoatCPO]

“You are not dealing with people who give a sh** about anything but maintaining power. They are perfectly willing as Marx said the “break eggs” to make their omelet.
Think smarter.”

Right idea, wrong strategy. Neuter the program by writing rules and funding it in such a way as to let it die on the vine. I am just gun decking, but they could require a 30 day period from the date of enrollment to time benefits are available. (TRICARE Dental and Retiree TRICARE already does this) This will prevent people from waiting until a car accident or discovering an illness before they get insurance. That will help keep premiums down for all Americans. It also means there will be a bunch of PO’d College students and young professionals that could of lived off those of us paying the taxes and premiums under Bambi’s plan. Plus they learn a new concept no longer taught in our schools, responsibility. Allow companies and individuals to purchase off shore insurance policies. Those policies are not regulated by DC, they can deny people with pre-existing conditions and keep premiums down. Employers can then offer so called Cadillac policies at Toyota prices. Great deal for small businesses. Employers could use it to attract employees with wages and quality health care. No financial penalties and a tax break to offset cost of off shore policy for individuals. Require that the full benefits go into effect in 2011, vice 2014. No taxation without corresponding medical care. The program will go bankrupt faster than Obama can be kicked out of the White House, hopefully going home to Indonesia where he will build substandard housing for the poor, made from recycled shoes tossed at him on a daily basis. HEY, I JUST HAD A THOUGHT, We should all go to DC and throw shoes at the steps of Congress!

[JSteff]

“Remember the Government ‘shutdown” in ‘96? Clinton engineered that and played it like a master, and Newt and the Republicans walked right into his ‘Brier Patch’.”

And Rendell pulls it every year in PA and the state Republican congress critters fold. Every year. And the press plays with it to egg them further and earlier into submission. It is pathetic and brings back memories of Clinton. Particularly since many of those state worker are considered “essential” so they will get paid anyway.

What a bunch of silly little girls they seem like. Really pathetic.

[Defiant]

One of my biggest disappointments in a life of following politics was when the GOP caved to Clinton in 1995. It was Bob Dole's fault, pure and simple. After the government was shut down a few days, he couldn't stand it any longer, and went to the White House and made a deal. He cut Newt's legs out from under him, and Newt had no choice but to go along. From then on, Clinton had power he didn't have before, to threaten and scold, and keep the GOP from being conservative. If he had lost that battle, he would have lost in 1996, and a lot of harm could have been avoided. If he had lost that battle, the GOP could have rolled back a lot of Great Society programs. Instead, they had to compromise on welfare reform (that Clinton took credit for) and a very small capital gains tax reduction.

Bob Dole was called the "Tax Collector for the Welfare State" for a reason. He was the old, go-along GOP that were like beaten dogs they had been subservient to Dems for so long. Gerald Ford, Bob Michel, Romney, those guys.

Not only did the GOP screw up a chance to kill off liberalism, but when the steam ran out because of RINOs in the Senate, the GOP was left to govern without much of an ideology except for staying in power. That corrupted them, and led to their defeat in 2006. National security was the only issue that they maintained consistency on, and that was spent by 2006.

Bottom line, in 1995, they didn't have the balls. Whether they would in 2011 is doubtful. Look at the Senate.

[Defiant]

A government shutdown would work if the GOP would stick with it. They have to be willing to endure the bad headlines long enough to make the press understand that it isn't going to work on them, and then the libs will realize that their beloved government is going down the tubes. They would eventually come to the table and deal, but they've never been forced to.

Reagan won one of those showdowns, but the composition of Congress changed, and he couldn't sustain a veto, and was overridden the second time he did it, Republicans joining in.

[Oceander]

Nothing's quite so much fun as living under the tyranny of fascist ticks:

[Defiant]

It would be a one-item Contract with America that would win a majority. I think you could even get the House to go along with it. I just don’t think there are enough conservatives in the Senate. McCain and Graham would start a gang of 18.

[Ditto]

What is your proposal? acquiescence? You start thinking "smarter".

Off the top of my head, here;s an idea.

I suggest that were assign values to the largess.

We already have our children's futures mortgaged. Let's start assigning dollar figures to every bill that will have to be paid by our grandchildren (assuming we are not in default by then) and having an up or down vote if you want your grandchildren saddled with the debt for this latest grandiose scheme invented in Washington for the benefit of the Washington establishment.

If I were King, I would change the CBO rules forcing them to assign a specific dollar amount, based on age demographics, that each citizen incurred for the spending and debt to be paid over their lifetime.

i.e.
Age 80 --- $2,000
Age 60 -- $20,000
Age 40 -- $200,000
Age 20 -- $$2,000,000
Age 0 --- $20,000,000

Yes, I just pulled those numbers out of my *** for a point of illustration, but the fact remains, we are broke! We must make the people understand that simple fact! We can't keep on pushing our debt off into the future, because the future is our children and grandchildren and we are screwing the very people we claim to love the most.

A smart strategy is to illustrate that.

[Ditto]

And Rendell pulls it every year in PA and the state Republican congress critters fold. Every year.

Yep. I live in PA, and the layoffs are always Cops and closing state parks. Never diversity councilors or PennDOT bureaucrats.

This last time Fast Eddie did that, everyone said 'Ho Hum, we heard that before."

As far as the Republicans in Harrisburg, I don't think they are any damn different than the Democrats. The entire state government is a criminal enterprise, IMHO, and some of them from both side are in or heading to prison. The fact is, it should be a lot more of them in the orange jumpsuits.