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The Medicare Monster

A Cautionary Tale

The scene is Capitol Hill. It’s the year 2035. Thousands of elderly protesters assemble outside the Capitol building. Inside, the House Ways and Means Committee meets to enact huge cuts in both Medicare and the national health-insurance program. Members are reluctant to take this step, but there’s no choice. Although Congress raised the Medicare payroll-tax rate to 15 percent a decade ago, the Medicare program is still woefully insolvent, consuming 40 percent of the $10-trillion federal budget. Because the total burden of payroll taxes for all social programs has reached 45 percent, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that half of the U.S. economy has gone "underground," like Latin American economies in the 1980s. Another hike in payroll taxes would only drive more of the economy underground. But elderly voters, who now make up a majority of the electorate, have swarmed to Washington demanding "fairness," since they have paid into the system for so many years.

Sound farfetched? The numbers suggest that this scenario could actually come to pass as soon as the next decade, not way off in 2035. The Medicare program is heading for a smashup, yet our political leaders speak only of instituting new federal health-insurance programs that would cover everyone.

The rhetoric and specific policy claims being made on behalf of the various universal government health insurance reforms today are remarkably similar to the promises made on behalf of Medicare a generation ago. Indeed, when Medicare became law, many of both its supporters and opponents predicted that it was the first step toward universal health care provided by the federal government. When Medicare finally passed in 1965, Rep. Phil Burton (D-Calif.) expressed the sentiments of many among its Great Society enthusiasts when he said, "I am equally certain that before many years Congress will choose to extend comprehensive medical care as a matter of right to every man, woman, and child in this country."

So the history of Medicare and the outlook for the program over the next generation provide a sobering lesson for today’s would-be designers of national health insurance. Unfortunately, no one seems to be paying attention to what the Medicare experience has to teach.

Today’s proposals for a universal national health-care policy typically divide into either a government-run "single-payer" system like Canada’s or a "play or pay" scheme that would require employers to provide health insurance for every worker or pay a payroll tax into a government insurance program. Advocates of such policies claim these programs won’t cost much because significant savings can be had through cost containment and other efficiencies of scale. The experience of 25 years of Medicare says otherwise.

The two primary lessons of Medicare are the chronic problem of woefully underestimating program costs and the impossibility of genuine cost control. A closer look at Medicare shows why these two problems are certain to plague a government-administered universal health-care plan.

The cost of Medicare is a good place to begin. At its start, in 1966, Medicare cost $3 billion. The House Ways and Means Committee estimated that Medicare would cost only about $ 12 billion by 1990 (a figure that included an allowance for inflation). This was a supposedly "conservative" estimate. But in 1990 Medicare actually cost $107 billion.

This is a mere bagatelle compared with "conservative" projections for the next generation. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that Medicare will cost $223 billion by 1997. Constance Homer, deputy secretary of Health and Human Services, warns that "by the year 2003, at the current rates, we will be spending more on Medicare than we do on Social Security."

The news gets even worse for the "out years" after that. The Health Care Finance Administration has given up making long-range projections of budget outlays of Medicare. Instead, HCFA makes calculations about the "actuarial balance" of the program–how much of the nation’s payroll will be required to pay for the program.

The 1992 annual report of the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund, which pays for the hospital-insurance portion of Medicare, warns that the Medicare program "is severely out of financial balance" and could go bust as soon as the year 2000. The report says expenditures from the hospital fund represented 1.3 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product in 1991 and will grow to 4.7 percent by 2065. To cover the cost, the Medicare payroll-tax rate will have to more than quadruple, from the current rate of 2.9 percent to 13.79 percent.

The full narrative of Medicare’s enactment in 1965, a classic tale of legislative and interest-group infighting, is too long to recount in detail here. Proposals for Medicare-style programs began surfacing in Congress during World War 11 but didn’t have a serious prospect of passage until the Kennedy administration.

Repeatedly in the early 1960s a coalition of Republicans and conservative Democrats defeated Medicare. The key figure in this perennial drama was Wilbur Mills, the legendary chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. Mills refused to pass a Medicare bill out of that key committee, supposedly out of concern that Medicare would threaten the integrity of the Social Security program (to which Medicare is attached).

Following the Democratic landslide in the election of 1964, which gave Democrats a 2-to-1 majority in both houses of Congress, President Lyndon Johnson exerted his influence to stack the Ways and Means Committee with new Democrats sympathetic to Medicare. Wilbur Mills changed his mind and embraced Medicare. "Mills can count" was the explanation given for his flip-flop. This new political landscape virtually assured that Medicare would sail through Congress with huge majorities.

When it became apparent after the 1964 election that Medicare’s passage was likely to be a slam dunk, the American Medical Association and Republicans scurried to put forward an alternative. The AMA foolishly tried to exploit public confusion over the fact that the Medicare proposal covered only hospital expenses but not costs for doctors, surgeons, dentists, and other outpatient services.

Arguing now that Medicare didn’t go far enough, the AMA sought to outflank Medicare with an alternative program that would include outpatient services as well as hospital expenses. "Eldercare," as it was called, provided for a voluntary comprehensive insurance program, administered through the states and financed through means-tested premiums from recipients and federal matching funds. Not to be outdone by the AMA, House Republicans, under new leader Gerald Ford, offered their own alternative, which was similar to Eldercare except that it would be administered by the federal government.

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Pingback| 11.18.09 @ 4:58PM

Would You Buy Insurance From This Man? « Left Coast Ledger links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…saying will be $1 trillion on the initial bill. Let me make this clear: the CBO nor any other government agency has ever even come close to correctly estimating the cost of any major government program. Medicare was supposed to cost $10 billion in 1964. The estimate was projected well into the 1990s. Wilbur Mills was the miscreant who ramrodded the bill through the House for LBJ. You’ll remember Wilbur as the…

Pingback| 12.15.09 @ 10:42PM

The Medicare Monster: A cautionary tale revisited. « The Western Experience links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…better to quantify the story to give it teeth. Let’s take a look at the Medicare narrative–as it was proposed in 1965 by Liberals–and what the reality has become. From Reason Magazine, January 1993 issue. Reason Magazine-The two primary lessons of Medicare are the chronic problem of woefully underestimating program costs and the impossibility of genuine cost control. A closer look at Medicare shows why…

Pingback| 1.6.10 @ 11:21AM

TAKEbackMEDICINE.org » Blog Archive » Look What Massachusetts Has To Say About HCR!! links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…reduced freedom for individuals – will make medical care harder to come by: an Economics 101 lesson in the pitfalls of price controls. There’s more: Medicare’s price tag has skyrocketed from $3 billion in 1966 to $453 billion this year. Yet its reimbursement of medical providers is so meager that more and more of them cannot afford to treat Medicare patients. Whatever else Medicare might be, it is no model…

Pingback| 1.6.10 @ 11:27AM

Mayo clinic decided to stop accepting Medicare « Harmony Health and Wellness links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…and abuse. The program’s long-term deficit is a staggering $38 trillion. Its expenditures have raced ahead of inflation from the day it was created: Medicare’s price tag has skyrocketed from $3 billion in 1966 to an estimated $453 billion this year. Yet its reimbursement of medical providers is so meager that more and more of them cannot afford to treat Medicare patients. Whatever else Medicare might be, it…

Pingback| 1.6.10 @ 2:22PM

Obama Says "Look at the Mayo Clinic" - Political Forum links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…to fraud and abuse. The program’s long-term deficit is a staggering $38 trillion . Its expenditures have raced ahead of inflation from the day it was created: Medicare’s price tag has skyrocketed from $3 billion in 1966 to $453 billion this year . Yet its reimbursement of medical providers is so meager that more and more of them cannot afford to treat Medicare patients. Whatever else Medicare might be, it is no model…

Pingback| 1.7.10 @ 9:04PM

Photomaniacal » Blog Archive » Medicare and the Mayo Clinic links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…to fraud and abuse. The program’s long-term deficit is a staggering $38 trillion. Its expenditures have raced ahead of inflation from the day it was created: Medicare’s price tag has skyrocketed from $3 billion in 1966 to $453 billion this year. Yet its reimbursement of medical providers is so meager that more and more of them cannot afford to treat Medicare patients. Whatever else Medicare might be, it is no model…

Pingback| 1.8.10 @ 4:17AM

Real Change- Rebuild American Manufacturing « Speaking of Precision Blog links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Let’s look at the history of Medicare as an example of government run healthcare.  The following excerpt is from an article written in 1993 by Steven Hayward & Eric Peterson title “ The Medicare Monster, A Cautionary Tale ”. “The cost of Medicare is a good place to begin. At its start, in 1966, Medicare cost $3 billion. The House Ways and Means Committee estimated that Medicare would cost only about $ 12…

Pingback| 2.9.10 @ 2:28PM

Yes, Mr. President, there are other health care plans…if you REALLY want to listen links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…solution.  Why can’t they do this before passing ANY health care overhaul?  Do they fear that it WOULD bring down costs and, as a result, eliminate the need to grow the size of government? ( The Medicare Monster ) Why is TORT reform totally absent from both the House and Senate health care bills?  Is it because of the amount of money provided to the majority party by the special interest groups representing…

Pingback| 2.25.10 @ 2:47PM

Medicare working so great, doctors are threatening to drop more patients - Politics a links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…abuse. The program’s long-term deficit is a staggering $38 trillion . Its expenditures have raced ahead of inflation from the day it was created: Medicare’s price tag has skyrocketed from $3 billion in 1966 to $453 billion this year . Yet its reimbursement of medical providers is so meager that more and more of them cannot afford to treat Medicare patients. Whatever else Medicare might be, it is no model…

Pingback| 2.25.10 @ 2:48PM

Medicare working so great, doctors are threatening to drop more patients - Politics a links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…abuse. The program’s long-term deficit is a staggering $38 trillion . Its expenditures have raced ahead of inflation from the day it was created: Medicare’s price tag has skyrocketed from $3 billion in 1966 to $453 billion this year . Yet its reimbursement of medical providers is so meager that more and more of them cannot afford to treat Medicare patients. Whatever else Medicare might be, it is no model…

Pingback| 2.25.10 @ 5:27PM

Medicare working so great, doctors are threatening to drop more patients - Politics a links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…to fraud and abuse. The program’s long-term deficit is a staggering $38 trillion . Its expenditures have raced ahead of inflation from the day it was created: Medicare’s price tag has skyrocketed from $3 billion in 1966 to $453 billion this year . Yet its reimbursement of medical providers is so meager that more and more of them cannot afford to treat Medicare patients. Whatever else Medicare might be, it is no model…

Pingback| 3.2.10 @ 3:22PM

» New Government Programs Always Cost More Than Predicted - Big Government links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…wrong. And it’s always wrong by underestimating the cost. Why don’t the Republicans point this out? (Probably because they’ve been big government spenders, too.) Look back at when Medicare was first created: At its start, in 1966, Medicare cost $3 billion. The House Ways and Means Committee estimated that Medicare would cost only about $ 12 billion by 1990 (a figure that included an allowance for…

Pingback| 3.20.10 @ 1:04AM

Did this guy actually read it? - Page 3 links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…billion over the 2004-2013 period. That is an increase of $41 billion over the original $552 billion estimate of net Medicare spending for Part D How about the original Medicare estimates? The Medicare Monster - Reason Magazine Quote: The two primary lessons of Medicare are the chronic problem of woefully underestimating program costs and the impossibility of genuine cost control. A closer look at Medicare shows why…

Pingback| 3.21.10 @ 11:33PM

OpinionEditorial — Blog — Beware the Fury of a Patient Man links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…still uncertain. In fact, no one knows what ObamaCare will cost. The bill consists of 2500 pages of dense legalese, plus thousands of pages of regulations yet to be written. ● What is certain is that, like Medicare, it is sure to cost more than early estimates. ● What is certain is that if illegal immigrants are included in ObamaCare, as seems likely despite the president’s promise, costs will be even higher. ● What is…

Pingback| 3.22.10 @ 3:18PM

What’s Really Bad About the Bill « the Global Observatory links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…spending a pretty 1.4 trillion dollars per year on average more than we have. $940 billion will only add to that. Moreover, government cost estimates almost always prove to be far short of the actual number. Medicare, for instance,: … in 1966 cost $3 billion. The House Ways and Means Committee estimated that Medicare would cost only about $ 12 billion by 1990 (a figure that included an allowance for inflation).…

Pingback| 3.23.10 @ 8:50PM

Health Care Passed, A serious question about the past. links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…only about $ 12 billion by 1990 (a figure that included an allowance for inflation). This was a supposedly "conservative" estimate. But in 1990 Medicare actually cost $107 billion. The Medicare Monster - Reason Magazine __________________ 1988 FJ62 on 33s 1996 LX450 on 33s   Bookmarks Facebook Google Twitter del.icio.us MySpace Yahoo Digg StumbleUpon aster_cloud_id = '2425741'; aster_cloud_format =…

Pingback| 3.24.10 @ 7:51AM

William M. Briggs, Statistician » Democrat’s Appalling Budget Wishcast links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…For example, meteorologists often exaggerate the chance for snow on The Federally Recognized Holiday of December 25th. Where does the wishcasting come in with Obamacare? Consider Medicare. In 1966, Congress forecast that by 1990 it would cost $12 billion (adjusted for inflation). It actually cost $107 billion. This is nine times higher. A similar story is had for Social Security, Medicaid, and every other…

Pingback| 3.26.10 @ 3:40PM

The True Prescription for Medical-Care Reform Is A Freed Market « The Freeman Chronic links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…fiction. Medicare, which was launched in 1966, actually cost $3 billion. Congress projected the costs of the program at about $12 billion by 1990 (an alleged conservative estimate). By the time that year came, the actual cost was $107 billion (if inflation is included in the costs). In 2003, the CATO Institute issued a report indicating that the program was going to be price-tagged at a projected $244 billion. Moreover,…

Pingback| 3.29.10 @ 1:16AM

Political News Highlights and Controversy» Did The CBO Report Double Count Medicare D links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…is still happening. What’s more, ask yourself what government estimate of costs has ever been accurate? Take Medicare for instance: The cost of Medicare is a good place to begin. At its start, in 1966, Medicare cost $3 billion. The House Ways and Means…

Pingback| 3.29.10 @ 1:16AM

Political News Highlights and Controversy» Did The CBO Report Double Count Medicare D links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…is still happening. What’s more, ask yourself what government estimate of costs has ever been accurate? Take Medicare for instance: The cost of Medicare is a good place to begin. At its start, in 1966, Medicare cost $3 billion. The House Ways and…

Pingback| 3.29.10 @ 1:16AM

Political News Highlights and Controversy» Did The CBO Report Double Count Medicare D links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…as I know, that double-counting is still happening. What’s more, ask yourself what government estimate of costs has ever been accurate? Take Medicare for instance: The cost of Medicare is a good place to begin. At its start, in 1966, Medicare cost $3 billion. The House Ways and Means Committee…

Pingback| 3.29.10 @ 1:16AM

Political News Highlights and Controversy» Did The CBO Report Double Count Medicare D links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…What’s more, ask yourself what government estimate of costs has ever been accurate? Take Medicare for instance: The cost of Medicare is a good place to begin. At its start, in 1966, Medicare cost $3 billion.…

Pingback| 3.29.10 @ 1:16AM

Political News Highlights and Controversy» Did The CBO Report Double Count Medicare D links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…is still happening. What’s more, ask yourself what government estimate of costs has ever been accurate? Take Medicare for instance: The cost of Medicare is a good place to begin. At its start, in 1966, Medicare cost $3 billion. The House Ways and Means…

Pingback| 3.29.10 @ 1:16AM

Political News Highlights and Controversy» Did The CBO Report Double Count Medicare D links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…is still happening. What’s more, ask yourself what government estimate of costs has ever been accurate? Take Medicare for instance: The cost of Medicare is a good place to begin. At its start, in 1966, Medicare cost $3 billion. The House Ways and Means…

Pingback| 3.29.10 @ 1:16AM

Political News Highlights and Controversy» Did The CBO Report Double Count Medicare D links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…is still happening. What’s more, ask yourself what government estimate of costs has ever been accurate? Take Medicare for instance: The cost of Medicare is a good place to begin. At its start, in 1966, Medicare cost $3 billion. The House Ways and Means Committee…

Pingback| 3.29.10 @ 1:16AM

Political News Highlights and Controversy» Did The CBO Report Double Count Medicare D links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…I know, that double-counting is still happening. What’s more, ask yourself what government estimate of costs has ever been accurate? Take Medicare for instance: The cost of Medicare is a good place to begin. At its start, in 1966, Medicare cost $3 billion. The House Ways and Means…

Pingback| 3.29.10 @ 1:16AM

Political News Highlights and Controversy» Did The CBO Report Double Count Medicare D links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…is still happening. What’s more, ask yourself what government estimate of costs has ever been accurate? Take Medicare for instance: The cost of Medicare is a good place to begin. At its start, in 1966, Medicare cost $3 billion. The House Ways and Means Committee…

Pingback| 3.29.10 @ 1:16AM

Political News Highlights and Controversy» Did The CBO Report Double Count Medicare D links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…is still happening. What’s more, ask yourself what government estimate of costs has ever been accurate? Take Medicare for instance: The cost of Medicare is a good place to begin. At its start, in 1966, Medicare cost $3 billion. The House Ways and Means…

Pingback| 3.29.10 @ 1:16AM

Political News Highlights and Controversy» Did The CBO Report Double Count Medicare D links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…is still happening. What’s more, ask yourself what government estimate of costs has ever been accurate? Take Medicare for instance: The cost of Medicare is a good place to begin. At its start, in 1966, Medicare cost $3 billion. The House Ways and Means Committee estimated…

Pingback| 3.29.10 @ 1:17AM

Political News Highlights and Controversy» Did The CBO Report Double Count Medicare D links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…is still happening. What’s more, ask yourself what government estimate of costs has ever been accurate? Take Medicare for instance: The cost of Medicare is a good place to begin. At its start, in 1966, Medicare cost $3 billion. The House Ways and Means…

Pingback| 3.29.10 @ 1:17AM

Political News Highlights and Controversy» Did The CBO Report Double Count Medicare D links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…is still happening. What’s more, ask yourself what government estimate of costs has ever been accurate? Take Medicare for instance: The cost of Medicare is a good place to begin. At its start, in 1966, Medicare cost $3 billion. The House Ways and Means…

Pingback| 3.29.10 @ 1:17AM

Political News Highlights and Controversy» Did The CBO Report Double Count Medicare D links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…happening. What’s more, ask yourself what government estimate of costs has ever been accurate? Take Medicare for instance: The cost of Medicare is a good place to begin. At its start, in 1966, Medicare cost $3 billion. The House Ways and Means Committee…

Pingback| 3.29.10 @ 1:17AM

Political News Highlights and Controversy» Did The CBO Report Double Count Medicare D links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…is still happening. What’s more, ask yourself what government estimate of costs has ever been accurate? Take Medicare for instance: The cost of Medicare is a good place to begin. At its start, in 1966, Medicare cost $3 billion. The House Ways and Means Committee estimated that…

Pingback| 3.29.10 @ 1:17AM

Political News Highlights and Controversy» Did The CBO Report Double Count Medicare D links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…still happening. What’s more, ask yourself what government estimate of costs has ever been accurate? Take Medicare for instance: The cost of Medicare is a good place to begin. At its start, in 1966, Medicare cost $3 billion. The…

Pingback| 3.29.10 @ 1:17AM

Political News Highlights and Controversy» Did The CBO Report Double Count Medicare D links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…is still happening. What’s more, ask yourself what government estimate of costs has ever been accurate? Take Medicare for instance: The cost of Medicare is a good place to begin. At its start, in 1966, Medicare cost $3 billion. The House Ways and Means…

Pingback| 3.29.10 @ 1:17AM

Political News Highlights and Controversy» Did The CBO Report Double Count Medicare D links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…What’s more, ask yourself what government estimate of costs has ever been accurate? Take Medicare for instance: The cost of Medicare is a good place to begin. At its start, in 1966, Medicare cost $3 billion. The House Ways…

Pingback| 3.29.10 @ 1:17AM

Political News Highlights and Controversy» Did The CBO Report Double Count Medicare D links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…happening. What’s more, ask yourself what government estimate of costs has ever been accurate? Take Medicare for instance: The cost of Medicare is a good place to begin. At its start, in 1966, Medicare cost $3 billion. The House Ways and Means Committee estimated that…

Pingback| 3.29.10 @ 1:17AM

Political News Highlights and Controversy» Did The CBO Report Double Count Medicare D links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…is still happening. What’s more, ask yourself what government estimate of costs has ever been accurate? Take Medicare for instance: The cost of Medicare is a good place to begin. At its start, in 1966, Medicare cost $3 billion. The House Ways and Means Committee…

Pingback| 3.29.10 @ 8:40AM

If You Can Find A Path With No Obstacles It Probably Doesn’t Lead Anywhere « Finding links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…What history tells us is that the costs associated with the new legislation will be substantially higher than anticipated.    Consider that when Medicare was established the anticipated cost in 1990, when adjusted for inflation, was to be $12 billion dollars but ended up costing $107 billion.  Extrapolating what has occurred with Medicare exponentially is what businesses are considering today.   The recently passed…

Pingback| 3.31.10 @ 10:18AM

The Glenn Beck Boycott Gaining Traction - FOX News Losing Money - Page 60 links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…costs of a bankrupt program in your world. Doesn't matter to you, does it? The misinformation is coming from supporters not detractors and the detractors have history on their side. http://reason.com/archives/1993/01/0...dicare-monster Last edited by Conservative; Today at 09:14 AM.   Today, 09:16 AM   # 597 Boo Radley Professor     Join Date: Dec 2009 Last Seen: Today 09:18 AM Posts: 2,253…

Pingback| 4.4.10 @ 12:39AM

Farmer Barrack And His Crop Of “Cabbage” « RoadSideSatire.com links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Lyndon’s” cabbage cost numbers are real and are taken from actual estimates used for the projected 25-year cost of the 1965 Medicare bill passed by President Lyndon Johnson, as reported by Reason.com.  “Farmer Barrack’s” cabbage cost numbers are also real, as far as they go, and represent the estimated governmental cost of Health Care Reform over 10 years as calculated by the…

Pingback| 4.6.10 @ 12:52AM

U.S. Supreme Court to strike down Obamacare - Page 5 - US Message Board - Political links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…only about $ 12 billion by 1990 (a figure that included an allowance for inflation). This was a supposedly "conservative" estimate. But in 1990 Medicare actually cost $107 billion. The Medicare Monster - Reason Magazine I just can't see that when confronted with facts, the left simply ignores them and continues to bang the drum Obama tells them to bang. Sponsored links Remove advertisements US Message Board -…

Pingback| 4.24.10 @ 12:25PM

Another Obama lie. New Report. Obamcare will raise - Page 2 - US Message Board - Pol links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…$ 12 billion by 1990 (a figure that included an allowance for inflation). This was a supposedly "conservative" estimate. But in 1990 Medicare actually cost $107 billion. http://reason.com/archives/1993/01/0...dicare-monster That underminds YOUR argument. The government does not have a great reacord when it comes to accurate projections. __________________ Guird up Conservatives! Don't reform or rebrand…

Pingback| 4.28.10 @ 9:07AM

State Policy Blog » Blog Archive » Breaking Down Obama’s Debt Commission links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…will look like in four, five, and ten years, that it really is somewhat disingenuous to make a hard claim on that piece of legislation fitting this standard. Given the fact that Medicare now costs about 1000% more than was estimated when it passed in 1966, it is not hard to believe that ObamaCare could also get out of hand. All that to say, Mr. President, I appreciate your desire to control spending with this…

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