Considering how big the bill is, it’s not that surprising. It would take six months just to read it, a hell of a lot longer to analyze it.
Just to give my FRiends an idea of what it's like to read legislation, here is one of the 2700 pages:
SEC. 1102. REINSURANCE FOR EARLY RETIREES. (a) ADMINISTRATION.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a temporary reinsurance program to provide reimbursement to participating employment-based plans for a portion of the cost of providing health insurance coverage to early retirees (and to the eligible spouses, surviving spouses, and dependents of such retirees) during the period beginning on the date on which such program is established and ending on January 1, 2014. (2) REFERENCE.—In this section: (A) HEALTH BENEFITS.—The term ‘‘health benefits’’ means medical, surgical, hospital, prescription drug, and such other benefits as shall be determined by the Secretary, Deadline. Time period. whether self-funded, or delivered through the purchase of insurance or otherwise. (B) EMPLOYMENT-BASED PLAN.—The term ‘‘employment- based plan’’ means a group health benefits plan that is— (I) maintained by one or more current or former employers (including without limitation any State or local government or political subdivision thereof), employee organization, a voluntary employees’ beneficiary association, or a committee or board of individuals appointed to administer such plan; or (II) a multiemployer plan (as defined in section 3(37) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974); and (ii) provides health benefits to early retirees. (C) EARLY RETIREES.—The term ‘‘early retirees’’ means individuals who are age 55 and older but are not eligible for coverage under title XVIII of the Social Security Act, and who are not active employees of an employer maintaining, or currently contributing to, the employmentbased plan or of any employer that has made substantial contributions to fund such plan. (b) PARTICIPATION.— (1) EMPLOYMENT-BASED PLAN ELIGIBILITY.—A participating employment-based plan is an employment-based plan that— (A) meets the requirements of paragraph (2) with respect to health benefits provided under the plan; and (B) submits to the Secretary an application for participation in the program, at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary shall require. (2) EMPLOYMENT-BASED HEALTH BENEFITS.—An employment- based plan meets the requirements of this paragraph if the plan— (A) implements programs and procedures to generate cost-savings with respect to participants with chronic and high-cost conditions; (B) provides documentation of the actual cost of medical claims involved; and (C) is certified by the Secretary.
And make sure you check out the referenced portion of the Social Security Act and ERISA to understand the references! (There are indentations used, but in the interest of keeping it to one screen ...
Sure, and he just scribbled the whole thing out one night before turning out the light. This thing has been in the works for years. We know Hillary was pushing it back during her admin, so who else was in on it?