Pelosi claims health care will pay for itself, defies CBO

Washington D.C. - Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi-D Calif. claims the new health care bill drafted in the House won’t require any money because the reform savings will pay the tab.

This comes as news from the Congressional Budget Office. Today the CBO Director, Douglas Elmendorf says the House and the Senate health care bills as written do not contain “the sort of fundamental changes that would be necessary to reduce the trajectory of federal health spending by a significant amount.”

The CBO says the health care being offered up will do the exact opposite. “This legislation significantly expands the federal responsibility for health-care costs.”

Democratic chairman of the Senate Budget Committee Kent Conrad D-N.D. put the question bluntly; “Will these health care bills begin to bend the long-term cost curve?”

“No,” Elmendorf said.

Raising the question, can we afford this new health care?

Former presidential candidate John McCain R-AZ said this bill is “like fish in the sun, it stinks.” It will add between $1 and $2 trillion to the deficit, which now sits at $1.1 trillion, he said.

Also, as the legislation is being thoroughly read, pork is being discovered. Senator Ted Kennedy D-MA has added $80 billion to build or revamp playgrounds and build bike/walking trails, McCain said.

Health care we can believe in?


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