Dissecting the Real Cost of ObamaCare

Wall Street Jouranl ^ | 3/4/2010 | Paul Ryan

[PhxRising]

The following are remarks made by Congressman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, the ranking Republican on the House Budget Committee, about the cost of the House and Senate health-care bills at President Obama's Blair House summit on health care, Feb. 25:

Look, we agree on the problem here. And the problem is health inflation is driving us off of a fiscal cliff.

Mr. President, you said health-care reform is budget reform. You're right. We agree with that. Medicare, right now, has a $38 trillion unfunded liability. That's $38 trillion in empty promises to my parents' generation, our generation, our kids' generation. Medicaid's growing at 21 percent each year. It's suffocating states' budgets. It's adding trillions in obligations that we have no means to pay for . . .

Now, you're right to frame the debate on cost and health inflation. And in September, when you spoke to us in the well of the House, you basically said—and I totally agree with this—I will not sign a plan that adds one dime to our deficits either now or in the future.

Since the Congressional Budget Office can't score your bill, because it doesn't have sufficient detail, but it tracks very similar to the Senate bill, I want to unpack the Senate score a little bit.

And if you take a look at the CBO analysis—analysis from your chief actuary—I think it's very revealing. This bill does not control costs. This bill does not reduce deficits. Instead, this bill adds a new health-care entitlement at a time when we have no idea how to pay for the entitlements we already have.

[PhxRising]

Excellent analysis by The House Budget Committee ranking Republican Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis, of the true costs of ObamaCare.

[Ulysse]

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[Ulysse]

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[Man50D]

The content for any federal version of health care is irrelevant. Article 1 Section 8 of the Constitution does not specifically list regulating health care as a power granted to Congress. Therefore any federal version is Unconstitutional. The people are not bound to comply with any unconstitutional act of Congress. This is the point people need to drive home with their Congress critters!

[GOP_Lady]

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[JIM O]

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