The Chamber Of Commerce Issues Erratic Ad In The Wake Of Their Break-Up With Apple
Just days after their break-up with Apple, the Chamber of Commerce has released a new ad that falsely implies the health care reform bill emerging from the Senate Finance Committee will be paid for by increasing taxes on American citizens. In reality, the Congressional Budget Office has made it clear the bill will reduce the deficit and only tax those with the ability to pay for the most expensive health insurance.
Chamber Of Commerce Ad Falsely Implies Health Care Reform Will Be Paid For By Taxes "You'll Pay"
Chamber of Commerce: "It's a tough economy. Business and working families are struggling. Health care reform could really help. But now congress wants $300 billion in new health care taxes. Taxes the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office says you'll pay. [On screen text: "Taxes get passed on to us. - Congressional Budget Office"] Increasing health care costs for businesses and working families. It doesn't make sense. Let's stop the health care tax. Let's make health care affordable, not more expensive." [Chamber of Commerce ad via YouTube, accessed 10/9/09]
But The CBO Analysis Of The Most Recent Health Care Reform Proposals Actually Includes Some Very Positive Predictions, Such As...
...Decreasing The Number Of Uninsured
Senate Finance Bill Would Allow 94% Of Americans To Gain Health Coverage. According to the CBO analysis: "Under the proposal, the share of legal nonelderly residents with insurance coverage would rise from about 83 percent currently to about 94 percent. Roughly 23 million people would purchase their own coverage through the new insurance exchanges, and there would be roughly 14 million more enrollees in Medicaid and CHIP than is projected under current law." [CBO.gov, 10/7/09]
...Reducing The Federal Deficit
The Chairman's Health Care Bill Will "Result In A Net Reduction" Of The Federal Deficit. The CBO reported: "According to CBO and JCT's assessment, enacting the Chairman's mark, as amended, would result in a net reduction in federal budget deficits of $81 billion over the 2010-2019 period. The estimate includes a projected net cost of $518 billion over 10 years for the proposed expansions in insurance coverage." [CBO.gov, 10/7/09]
...Giving Small Business Owners A Tax Credit
Baucus Bill Gives Small Businesses A Tax Credit. The CBO reported: "That net cost itself reflects a gross total of $829 billion in credits and subsidies provided through the exchanges, increased net outlays for Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and tax credits for small employers." [CBO.gov, 10/7/09]
...Taxing The Highest-Premium Insurance Plans
Senate Finance Committee Bill Allows For A Tax On Cadillac Insurance Plans. According to the CBO, "those costs are partly offset by $201 billion in revenues from the excise tax on high-premium insurance plans and $110 billion in net savings from other sources." [CBO.gov, 10/7/09]
