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CBO: Dems' Health Plans Will Raise Costs

'Maybe what he should do is run for Congress,' snaps Reid

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 16, 2009 5:38 PM CDT
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(Newser) – The health care reform bills being pushed by House Democrats and the Senate health panel would not cut costs as advertised, says the director of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. In fact, Douglas Elmendorf believes they would raise costs, the Washington Post reports. “We do not see the sort of fundamental changes that would be necessary to reduce the trajectory of federal health spending," Elmendorf told the Senate budget panel. "On the contrary, the legislation significantly expands the federal responsibility for health care costs.”

Republicans embraced his remarks, but they drew rebukes from Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, notes the New York Times. "Maybe what he should do is run for Congress," said Reid. Elmendorf specifically backed the idea of taxing employer-provided benefits, and Max Baucus—whose Senate finance panel is still working on its bill—expressed frustration that Obama has effectively taken that off the table. "Basically the president is not helping," Baucus said. "He does not want the exclusion, and that's making it difficult."

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont.   (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)
Congressional Budget Office Director Douglas Elmendorf.
Congressional Budget Office Director Douglas Elmendorf.   (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.   (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 21 comments
AdaptAndOvercome
Jul 17, 2009 12:24 PM CDT
I've been to Canada in the last year and have spoken to several people who said they could never live in the U.S. because our health care is a mess. They love the health care programs there. I've lived in Germany, where they have the same sentiment. They don't have to worry that they might get sick and not be able to get the help they need. And yes, sometimes there are times when you have to wait at the doctors office, but it doesn't begin to compare to the crap here in the U.S., where doctors are booking 10 patients for the same appointment time and 2 1/2 hours later, they call you in. And American doctors I have found of late, don't prescribe what works, they push whatever pharmecutical rep's are pushing that day. The gentleman at the pharmecy keeps track of my dad's prescriptions and on several occassions has had to tell mey dad "don't take this" it doesn't mix with the other pills you are taking and so he has to go to his doctor to have him change it. The doctor's excuse..."oh, I'm sorry and then he calls the pharmecy and complains about the guy that informed my dad about the medications. I thought the American way was to look out for each other, not see how we can screw each other blind.
Newser001
Jul 17, 2009 12:23 PM CDT
We pay 50% more per capita for healthcare than the next Western Nation, which also happens to have a National Healthcare program in place - I doubt we'll do any better, by simply avoiding the problem, doing absolutely nothing, and catering to the industry.
Yourself
Jul 17, 2009 12:12 PM CDT
this mess makes me want to move back to Canada. i miss the days of not having to worry about insurances and if my doctor is still approved on my insurance, or if i'll be screwed by the insurance companies, so on and so forth. it's such a god damn mess of a system

 
Harry Reid • Democrat • employers • health care reform • Max Baucus • tax breaks • senator • Obama administration

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