Chamber Of Commerce Ad Says Nine Months Is Too Fast To Pass Legislation
On September 1, 2009, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce announced the release of a new anti-health care reform ad titled "The Fast Sale." The ad asserts that congressional efforts to reform America's health care delivery system is happening quickly in order to hide the truth about reform from American citizens. However, since Congress and President Obama have been working on health care reform since January, nine months is hardly moving too fast.
"The Fast Sale"
U.S. Chamber Of Commerce Ad, "The Fast Sale," Accuses Congress Of Moving Too Fast On Health Insurance Reform. Politico published a script of a new U.S. Chamber of Commerce ad titled "The Fast Sale": "You know the type. There's a reason why some want to make a fast sale. Now Congress wants to make the fast sale on government-run health care. What don't they want you to know? Maybe it's the trillion dollar price tag. Or maybe the billions in higher taxes. Or the 239 billion in debt we'll owe when the sale is final. The fast sale on government-run health care? No way. Let's get serious and reform health care the right way." [Chamber Ad Script via Politico, 9/1/09]
How Is Nine Months Too Fast To Do Anything?
"The Fast Sale"? The process to achieve meaningful health insurance reform has been going on for over a year. President Obama made it a key part of his platform during his campaign - as did Senator McCain - and so the current movement should have surprised no one.
Senator McCain Made Health Care Reform A Part Of His Campaign Platform. According to his 2008 presidential campaign website, Senator John McCain wanted to address the health care crisis during his presidency including halting the "rapidly rising cost," instituting insurance reforms, and encouraging personal responsibility. [JohnMcCain.com via the Way Back Machine, June 2008 archive accessed 9/1/09]
Then-Senator Barack Obama Made Health Care Reform A Key Part Of His Campaign. According to his 2008 presidential campaign website, then-Senator Barack Obama stated an intent to fix America's health care system through providing "quality, affordable" health coverage for all, lowering costs, and finding new solutions. [BarackObama.com via the Way Back Machine, February 2008 archive accessed 9/1/09]
Additionally, Congress has been working on health insurance reform legislation since January. It is now September. Why does the Chamber want Americans to think nine months is too fast?
Congress And President Obama Passed SCHIP In Early 2009. According to the Associated Press, "President Barack Obama on Wednesday signed a bill extending health coverage to 4 million uninsured children." The House passed the SCHIP bill with a vote of 290-135, and the Washington Post reported the Senate passed SCHIP with a vote of 66-32. [Associated Press via Huffington Post, 2/4/09; Washington Post, 1/30/09]
The Health Insurance Reform Bills Are Not Yet Complete
The Chamber is getting ahead of itself in creating an ad around bills that aren't complete. The House bill still has to pass the general assembly and the Senate does not have a final bill, so any estimate of the cost is premature.
Additionally, the CBO has clearly stated that the cost predictions are more complicated than the Chamber portrays.
CBO: House Bill Would Increase Revenue By $83 Billion And Result In A $65 Billion Net Increase In The Federal Deficit Over Ten Years. In its letter to Chairman Rangel, the Congressional Budget Office wrote: "According to CBO's and JCT's assessment, enacting H.R. 3200 would result in a net increase in the federal budget deficit of $239 billion over the 2010-2019 period. That estimate reflects a projected 10-year cost of the bill's insurance coverage provisions of $1,042 billion, partly offset by net spending changes that CBO estimates would save $219 billion over the same period, and by revenue provisions that JCT estimates would increase federal revenues by about $583 billion over those 10 years. By the end of the 10-year period, in 2019, the coverage provisions would add $202 billion to the federal deficit, CBO and JCT estimate. That increase would be partially offset by net cost savings of $50 billion and additional revenues of $86 billion, resulting in a net increase in the deficit of an estimated $65 billion. It is important to note that the figures presented here do not represent a complete cost estimate for the coverage provisions of the legislation." [CBO.gov, 7/17/09; emphasis added]
CBO Director: Long Term Projections Difficult To Predict Accurately. During a question and answer period following his testimony in front of the Senate Budget Committee, CBO Director Douglas Elmendorf said: "But it is very hard to look out over a very long term and say very accurate things about growth rates. So most health experts that we talk with focus particularly on what is happening over the next 10 or 20 years, still a pretty long time period for projections..." [Hearing on CBO Long-Term Budget Outlook, 7/16/09]
