Question re: House Health Care Bill

[BlueDemKev]

Less than two (2) weeks ago when Pelosi introduced the bill, its cost was estimated to be $829 billion over ten years. Why and how has its cost now increased to $1.2 trillion?

I want this bill to pass, but I'm concerned about winning over enough of the blue dogs to vote yes. Many of them are fiscal hawks.

[harun]

1. That's what our military costs in a year.

[BlueDemKev]

2. President set a $900B Ceiling

I know how much we spend on defense, however Obama set a cost ceiling of $900 billion for the health care bill. If he breaks this promise, the Democrats will be in for a hard time in next year's midterm elections. We have to prove that we can handle the country's checkbook better than the Republicans can.

[alc]

3. I read somewhere that Pelosi is not counting

about $300 billion in fines/taxes.

Government cost ($800+ billion) + fines ($300+ billion) = $1.2 trillion.

I can't find that now and I've also read that the $300+ billion is medicare payments that will be shifted to states. Pelosi doesn't count them since they are not federal, but they have to be paid or medicare is screwed.


So I'm not a lot of help right now, but if you want to search, those are some areas you can look for.