Democrats Accused of Trying to 'Intimidate' Firms for Airing Health Care Concerns

FoxNews.com ^ | 3/31/2010

[SonOfDarkSkies]

The CEOs of some of the country's biggest companies are being summoned to Washington to defend claims that the health care reform law would cost them millions -- a move Republicans say amounts to intimidation.

Democratic Rep. Henry Waxman, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, on Friday fired off letters to the heads of Caterpillar, Verizon, AT&T and Deere after they and other firms reported that the health care overhaul would dig deep into their bottom lines.

Caterpillar claimed it would raise costs by $100 million in the first year and imperil coverage for its 150,000 employees and retirees. Deere estimated it would raise expenses by $150 million.

Waxman, in his letters, called these estimates a "matter of concern" and said they "appear to conflict with independent analyses" showing the law would lead to a decrease in premium costs for large companies.

[4rcane]

do you believe what the bil say, or do you believe what a politicians think the bill say

[Oceander]

[dfwgator]

Is that Lenin in that pic?

[auboy]

Waxbrain is a tyrant.

[Proud_texan]

Haw, haw, every time I read an article about this I can just imagine Congress lecturing business on generally accepted accounting procedure and real world SOX requirements.

[Past Your Eyes]

I call it a metter of concern that the congress, especially this creep, has the power to summon people to explain themselves as if they were no better than lawn jockeys at congress’s beck and call.

[RC2]

The companies need to come together and tell Waxman to stick it where the sun don’t shine. If these companies did this, they couldn’t do a dam thing. They need to stick together.

[LoveUSA]

The CEOs of some of the country's biggest companies are being summoned to Washington to defend claims that the health care reform law would cost them millions --

I thought the companies were required by law to announce expected changes in their projected earnings.

So now the law is that they must announce projections that are acceptable to Congress's agenda?

[SMARTY]

Why would this surprise anyone?

[hsalaw]

Is that Lenin in that pic?

In spirit. In reality it's Nostrilitis Waxman.

[DrDavid]

I want to see the public hearings where the CEO’s explain to Congress why they have to report this and why it cost them so much money...

[never4get]

"appear to conflict with independent the Obama analyses"

There, fixed it

[Signalman]

Under what legal statute, law, or regulation does the US Congress have the right to summon private individuals in order to testify? Doesn’t there have to be a formal investigation underway? I don’t believe, in this case, that there is (although I could be wrong). Otherwise, anyone can be summoned, for any reason at the whim of a dictatorial legislator.

[TruthHound]

Sieg Henry!

[Oceander]

It might as well be, but no, that's just one of Lenin's many fetish-fans - Henry "the fascist" Waxman.

[sticker]

Waxman arrives for the hearing:

[Republic]

I am SO GLAD that they REPORTED this. Thank GOD we still live in a country where truth has a few streets left open.

[PLD]

There should be a law against such ugly people being able to show their faces to the American public..Can you imagine what this does to our little children..And then to give this pig power should be another thing against the law..

[MediaMole]

Congressional subpoena power been upheld in McGrain V. Daugherty in 1927.

http://supreme.justia.com/us/273/135/case.html