Federalist Papers 2009
Healthcare in America-Socialism through Legislation

Paper 1: CBO Wizardry

The debate in our country over the Healthcare Industry is now in the Legislative phase, and a bill is being crafted by the Democrat Party behind close doors in Washington D.C. The Republican Party has been locked out of negotiations, removing any hopes for a bipartisan bill. The Main stream media, for the most part, has been a cheerleader for the cause, rather than the provider of information to the public, which is what they are supposed to be. The newspapers have been negligent in their duty to investigate, and inform, their readers. This legislation will be the most important change in our countries rights, and government powers, since the Social Security Act of 1936. Where are the Newspaper stories reporting the tax increases, deficits, benefits, and Medicare changes that will become law under this bill? The facts are all out there for everyone to see, and yet the Media refuses to perform their journalistic duty, which, I submit, is part of the reason why they are losing readers, and asking for government subsidies to stay in business.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), released a 10 year cost estimate of the Baucus bill, which was just approved by the Senate Finance Committee; the vote was 14-9, with Olympia Snowe (R)-Maine, voting with the Democrats. The CBO estimates the Baucus bill will be revenue neutral, meaning that it will not add to the now record-breaking $1.42 trillion deficit. However, it seems that the Democrats used a little “fuzzy Math” to achieve fiscal neutrality.

If this bill becomes law, all of the new fees and tax increases, will take effect, after President Obama signs the bill. The benefits, however, do not take effect until

2013. What that means is that we have the government taking in revenue for 10 years, while only paying out benefits for seven. This is a democratic runaround of both the CBO, and the American public. If an American corporation were caught attempting this kind of financial wizardry, it would be considered a criminal act. Why is our own government allowed to act in such a brazenly deceitful manner, without any consequence?