More Bad News For Obama Health Plan

And as we all know, bad news for Obama's Health Plan is good news for all of us.

Yeah, I know it's the House Health Plan, but Obama owns it since he's been out there pushing it even though he doesn't know what's in it. And he recently had a meeting with Doug Elmendorf, the head of the Congressional Budget Office, to strong-arm him into shutting up about how bad this plan is. Apparently it didn't work:

President Obama continued his campaign on behalf of health-care reform Saturday by focusing his radio and Internet address on the impact of insurance costs on small businesses.

The president said that many small businesses are forced to offer less generous plans, drop coverage or shut their doors because they cannot afford the rising cost of care.

"This is unsustainable, it's unacceptable, and it's going to change when I sign health insurance reform into law," he vowed.

At the same time, the administration received mixed news from the Congressional Budget Office, the nonpartisan group that estimates the cost of legislation.

The CBO concluded that an administration-backed proposal to give a new commission power to ratchet down what Medicare pays doctors and hospitals would save just $2 billion over the next decade. Democrats had hoped the proposal would score higher savings that could help provide coverage for about 47 million uninsured Americans.

First of all, we know the 47 million uninsured number Obama loves to use is bogus. As far as the "savings" goes, to put this into perspective, the total cost of the Obama/House plan is projected at $1.6 trillion over ten years -- which, given the government's propensity to vastly underestimate the actual cost of their services, is probably very low. But given this low number, $2 billion is a mere 1/800th of the total cost. Imagine if you were to buy a house for $150,000 from one realtor because they promise to save you a like amount over ten years. That amount would be about $20 a year -- about enough to take a family of four out to McDonald's once a year provided one of you got a Happy Meal. That's not what you could actually call "savings". What you could call it is the equivalent of finding six cents a day in the sofa.

But what the Obama/House plan lacks in savings it makes up for in a whole lot of bad provisions that would transform the best health care system in the world into a bureaucratic mess. The more time people who are actually inclined to read Obama's bill have to read it, unlike Obama and the House Democrats who are more interested in getting it passed than actually knowing what's in it, the more bad stuff they find.EconomcPolicyJournal.comhas referenced a list posted on Twitter of the worst provisions of the bill "tweeted" by Peter Fleckenstein, a guy who is actually reading the bill. It's a long list, but here are some of the highlights:

Pg 22 of the HC Bill MANDATES the Govt will audit books of ALL EMPLOYERS that self insure!!

Pg 30 Sec 123 of HC bill - THERE WILL BE A GOVT COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benes u get

Pg 29 lines 4-16 in the HC bill - YOUR HEALTHCARE IS RATIONED!!!


Pg 42 of HC Bill - The Health Choices Commissioner will choose UR HC Benefits 4 you. U have no choice!

PG 50 Section 152 in HC bill - HC will be provided 2 ALL non US citizens, illegal or otherwise

Pg 58HC Bill - Govt will have real-time access 2 individs finances & a National ID Healthcard will b issued!

As you can see, the references cited in the actual bill show that any pretense of "choice" is BS, we're going to provide free health care to illegal aliens, the bill calls for direct debits from American's bank accounts to pay for services AND everyone will have an national ID healthcard. Sounds just peachy keen doesn't it?

And if you thought that this wasn't going to be voted on before the Washington Weasels leave July 31st, think again. This could end up being one of those Friday afternoon fiascos just like Cap and Tax was:

July 25 (Bloomberg) -- Democratic leaders will try to push a health-care overhaul bill through its final House committee next week to clear the way for a floor vote even as clashes within the party leave the measure’s passage in doubt.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said “significant and positive progress” occurred yesterday when some Democrats agreed to add to the bill a plan to curb the growth of Medicare spending.

Still, the accord didn’t fully satisfy a group of self- described fiscally conservative “Blue Dog” Democrats who could block the measure’s approval by the Energy and Commerce Committee. Panel chairman Henry Waxman, a California Democrat and a Blue Dog leader, said they will try to work out disagreements on several matters next week.

Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat, said leaders believe that most House Democrats won’t want to see President Barack Obama’s top legislative priority fail, and that the pact on Medicare will attract more support for the bill.

“I am confident that based on that, we can resolve these other differences and get a bill out of committee,” Hoyer said. He said the House may stay in session beyond July 31, when it is scheduled to begin a month-long recess, to consider the legislation.

This means we can't let up on our calls, emails and faxes to the 52 Blue Dog Democrats who are holding fast against the leftist leadership of their party. This outrage has to be stopped or our country as we know it will never be the same.