» Andrew Moylan - Big Government

Andrew Moylan

Andrew Moylan is Director of Government Affairs for the 362,000-member National Taxpayers Union (www.ntu.org). NTU is the nation’s oldest grassroots taxpayer organization, celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, and is a vocal advocate for lower taxes, less spending, and smaller government at all levels. Andrew’s writings have appeared in such publications as the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Times, Investor’s Business Daily, and Forbes Magazine. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan with a degree in Political Science.

Report: House Health Care Bill INCREASES Costs By $289 Billion

by Andrew Moylan

The Politico ran a story this weekend pointing out a very inconvenient truth for proponents of the House version of big government health reform legislation: contrary to its goal of “bending the cost curve downward” over time, the bill would actually INCREASE health care costs by $289 billion.

The report issued by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services estimated that the “Affordable Health Care for America Act” would increase health care costs from the current level of 20.8 percent of GDP up to 21.1 percent a decade from now. It also adds yet another voice to the chorus now showing that preventive care and wellness programs do NOT decrease long-term costs.

In a fascinating development, the White House has now actually admitted, apparently for the first time, that the House bill would increase health care burdens despite President Obama’s repeated assertion that he seeks a health care bill that would reduce costs. In response to the CMS study, Obama aide Nancy-Ann DeParle said, “the good news was that, despite extending coverage to 36 million people, health care spending would rise by only by 0.8 percent.”

The CMS findings could make it very difficult for Congressional Democrats and other proponents to follow through on what might be the central argument for their plan of massive tax hikes, subsidies, and regulations: that it would reduce crippling health care costs. Several Members, particularly those facing tough re-election fights, have committed themselves to only voting for a plan that would cut long-term health care costs.

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