Faced With Growing Momentum For Health Care Reform, House Republicans Scramble For Message Footing
October 27, 2009 saw a parade of Republicans taking the House floor to decry Democratic efforts at transformative health care reform. Led by Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), the Republicans railed against the same imagined problems they've been using for months. However, as usual, the facts don't support the Republican talking points.
Rep. Boehner Spouts False Talking Points
Rep. Boehner Wrong On Changes To Medicare
"None Of The 'Savings' Or 'Cuts' (Whichever You Prefer) Come From Reducing Current Or Future Benefit Levels For Seniors." According to FactCheck.org, "The House bill would trim projected increases in payments for hospitals, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies and others, including home health care providers and suppliers of motor-driven wheelchairs. But it also proposes what CBO estimates is a $245 billion increase in spending for doctors, by canceling a scheduled 21 percent cut in physician payments. None of the 'savings' or 'cuts' (whichever you prefer) come from reducing current or future benefit levels for seniors." [FactCheck.org, accessed 9/9/09]
CBO: Cost Changes To Medicare Made From Savings. According to the CBO letter to Senator Baucus: "Changes to the Medicare program and changes to Medicaid and CHIP other than those associated directly with expanded insurance coverage: Savings from those provisions are estimated to total $93 billion in 2019, and CBO projects that, in combination, they will increase by 10 percent to 15 percent per year in the next decade." [CBO.gov, 10/7/09]
Reform Legislation Will Allow A 5% Medicare Payment Increase For Primary Care Services To Some Physicians. According to a Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of HR 3200, among other changes to the Medicare payment structure, the legislation "provides for a 5% payment bonus, effective January 1, 2011, for evaluation and management services and other services associated with ensuring accessible, continuous, coordinated, and comprehensive care when provided by a physician or other practitioner who specializes in family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatrics or geriatrics." [KFF.org, 8/6/09]
Rep. Boehner Emphasized "Closed Door" Deliberations; Forgot That Republicans Have Refused To Be Part Of The Reform Conversation
The Republicans have made much of the Democratic deliberations over final health care reform legislation. With what the attitude of conservatives has been, it's not as if they've wanted to be part of the process.
Rep. Steve King: "I think it's time to really slow down or stop the negotiations with the Democrats." [Spencer Daily Reporter, 8/25/09]
Rep. Tom Cole: "I'd like to see the Democrats go home and get pounded on." [The Hill, 7/22/09]
Rep. Roy Blunt: "Our bill is never going to get to the floor, so why confuse the focus? We clearly have principles; we could have language, but why start diverting attention from this really bad piece of work they've got to whatever we're offering right now?" [The Hill, 7/22/09]
Sen. Chuck Grassley: "I take pride with being an obstructionist." [Politico, 7/6/09]
Sen. Chuck Grassley: "I don't think it's going to be possible to work it out with the administration." [Grassley Teleconference, 8/25/09]
Sen. Chuck Grassley: "The only way to get a bipartisan agreement is to defeat a Democratic proposal." [Radio Iowa, accessed 9/9/09]
Sen. Jim DeMint: "If we're able to stop Obama on [health care reform], it will be his Waterloo. It will break him." [ABC News, 7/20/09] *AUDIO*
Sen. Jon Kyl: "I don't think a single Republican in the Senate would support either of those bills." [Fox News, 8/20/09]
Sen. Jon Kyl: "I think his concern about having almost all Republicans opposing that kind of approach is a valid one." [Politico, 8/18/09]
Sen. John Thune said he "cannot foresee any Republican votes in the Senate for any healthcare bill." [Roll Call, 8/25/09]
