Posted by
Ikester on Friday, November 20, 2009 5:56:11 PM
What's Not to Dislike?
After six long weeks, Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) finally unveiled the Senate Majority's version of health care reform. But one look at the mammoth 2,074 page bill and most agree: the legislation was hardly worth waiting for. In a small concession to social conservatives--and parents--the Senate version of reform does revisit Title V abstinence funding, which President Obama completely dropped from his 2010 budget. Although this bill wouldn't restore the money to Bush-era levels, it would give a surprise boost to an abstinence movement that was abandoned by Congress earlier this year. Unfortunately, even that good news isn't great, since Title V dollars will be balanced with a push for "comprehensive" sex-ed as well. As for the other spending, Sen. Reid was careful to keep the price tag below $900 billion--but he had to use some clever accounting tricks to do it. He claims the plan's bottom line is $848 billion, but he neglects to mention that it delays most of the spending until 2014. From there, the actual costs skyrocket to $2.5 trillion over the first 10 years of full implementation (2014-2023). Here are some other tidbits that may test your blood pressure:
- Taxes: Under the Senate bill, U.S. taxes will increase by $493.6 billion --almost a half-trillion dollars!
- Government-takeover Option: Although he shrewdly renamed the public option, Sen. Reid did stand by his promise to include it. His " Community Health Insurance Option" would allow states to opt-out of participating in government-run health care, but they would still be expected to pay for portions of it.
- Employer Mandates: Sen. Reid's bill would impose $28 billion in new taxes on employers that don't provide government-approved health plans. The new taxes would ultimately be passed on to American workers in the form of reduced wages or lost jobs.
- Marriage Penalty: To punish married taxpayers, the Senate plan would inflict an additional 0.5% payroll tax on married couples making more than $250,000 a year in wages. Cohabiting couples, on the other hand, are free to make $200,000 each before getting slammed by the same tax.
- Number of Uninsured: Five million Americans would lose their employer coverage under this plan.
- Taxpayer-Funded Abortion: IT'S IN THERE!
Setting up what Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) calls "a holy war," the Stupak-Pitts language was entirely stripped from the liberal plan and replaced by the phony compromise first introduced by Rep. Lois Capps (D-Calif.) in the House. On pages 116-124, the legislation authorizes the Secretary of HHS to fund abortion in the public option, offers tax credits to private plans that cover abortion on demand, and abolishes conscience protections for health providers who refuse to perform abortions. It even goes so far as to insist that a plan to cover abortion must be available in every U.S. District.
Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Nebr.) aired his frustration on the Senate floor this morning. "Now, supporters say don't worry, public funds, well, they would be segregated. They wouldn't be used for abortion. But this provides no solace whatsoever. It's impossible to segregate funds... Congressman Stupak and about 40 of his Democratic colleagues... stared the Speaker in the eye and they said... if it isn't pro-life, we're not there, and the Speaker had no choice but to put the Ellsworth amendment up for a vote. Over 40 courageous Congressmen stuck to their convictions and they made a difference. Today in the Senate, we don't need 40 Democrats to stand up for what's right. We need just one."
It looks like President Obama will do everything he can to keep that one senator from tearing down the wall between taxpayers and the bloody business of abortion. In an interview with Fox News yesterday, he said the Stupak amendment didn't "strike the right balance" between paying for abortion and "restrict[ing] women's choices." With all due respect, this isn't about striking a balance; it's about maintaining the status quo. And that status quo is that the federal government doesn't bankroll the abortion industry.
Sen. Reid is expected to file cloture today on the motion to proceed with the bill. That means the next two weeks are vital. While your senators may be taking a late holiday break, we can't afford to. Please do what you can to keep the pressure on by visiting, calling, and emailing your Senators' district offices when they head home next Wednesday.
Source: Family Research Council