House Committee on Education and Labor
U.S. House of Representatives
Republicans
Rep. Howard P. “Buck†McKeon
Ranking Member
Fiscally responsible reforms for students, workers and retirees.
Left Turns
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
CONTACT: Alexa Marrero |
ObamaCare Continues to Pile Up Hidden Costs and Broken Promises
In March, while rallying support for her government takeover of health care, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) famously told the American people that Congress needed to “pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it…” Well, the last two months have certainly revealed a great deal, including billions of dollars in additional costs to taxpayers today and in future generations.
The latest revelation: at least $115 billion in so-called discretionary money for administrative costs and new programs will be allocated by Congress and spent by government bureaucrats.
According to a new report by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, this pot of taxpayer money includes:
“The costs that will be incurred by federal agencies to implement the new policies established by PPACA, such as administrative expenses for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Internal Revenue Service for carrying out key requirements of the legislation.” (page 1)
“Explicit authorizations for a variety of grant and other program spending for which specified funding levels for one or more years are provided in the act.” (page 2)
"Explicit authorizations for a variety of grant and other program spending for which no specific funding levels are identified in the legislation.” (page 2)
“CBO estimates that total authorized costs in the first two categories probably exceed $115 billion over the 2010-2019 period, as detailed below. We do not have an estimate of the potential costs of authorizations in the third category.” (page 2)
Unfortunately for taxpayers, reports that ObamaCare will cost more than advertised are becoming all too frequent.
- A report by the Obama administration recently estimated national health care costs will increase by $311 billion over the next 10 years.
- “An analysis in Fortune magazine warned the higher costs and cumbersome mandates imposed through a government takeover of health care may dismantle the employer-based system for providing health care to millions of Americans, saddling taxpayers with even higher costs as workers and families are shifted into government-run plans.
Recent headlines say it all:
- “CBO doubles some health spending estimates,” CNN, 5/11/2010
- “Obama’s health care tab may top $1 trillion,” USA Today, 5/12/2010
- “CBO ups health care cost projections,” Politico, 5/11/2010
- “New coverage for young adults will raise premiums,” Associated Press, 5/10/2010
- “Insured workers’ health costs still rising,” CNNMoney.com, 5/11/2010
- “Report: Health overhaul will increase nation’s tab,” Associated Press, 4/22/2010
In his weekly address, President Obama declared: “This is what change looks like.” Sadly, the change the American people see is a lot different than the change they were promised.
