Rep. Cantor's Office Produced A Misleading Health Care Video

Rep. Cantor's "Reckless" Video

Rep. Cantor's Office Falsely Stated The Democratic Health Care Plan Would Cost $1.6 Trillion

Rep. Cantor's Claim: "How much will it cost?  $1.6 Trillion.  Cost has consequences." [GOP Whip Video, accessed 7/22/09]

CQ: "The CBO Estimate Released Late Friday Pegs The Gross Cost Of The Bill (HR 3200) At $1.04 Trillion." According to CQ Politics, "The House version of a health care overhaul bill would produce a deficit of $239 billion over 10 years, according to a new Congressional Budget Office estimate. The CBO estimate released late Friday pegs the gross cost of the bill (HR 3200) at $1.04 trillion, with the price tag partially offset by a surtax on the wealthy and other revenue raisers that would raise $583 billion and anticipated efficiencies that would squeeze $219 billion out of Medicare and Medicaid." [CQ Politics, 7/19/09]

Rep. Cantor's Office Falsely Implied President Obama Would Break A Campaign Pledge

Rep. Cantor's Claim:

NARRATOR: Cost has consequences. Obama said he wouldn't raise taxes.

OBAMA: Under my plan no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase.

NARRATOR: But now won't rule it out.  [GOP Whip Video, accessed 7/22/09]

NYT: The Surtax Being Considered In The House Only Affects Families Earning Over $350,000 Annually. As reported by the New York Times, "Under the House bill, the surtax would apply to individuals with adjusted gross incomes of more than $280,000 and couples filing joint returns with incomes over $350,000. Aides to Ms. Pelosi said she wanted to lift the thresholds to $500,000 for individuals and $1 million for joint filers, so the new levy could be described as a tax on millionaires." [New York Times, 7/20/09]

The Republican Plan Is Inadequate For American Families

Rep. Cantor's Claim: "The Republican Plan.  If you like what you have, you can keep it.  Access to affordable, basic coverage. Will the Democrats join us?" [GOP Whip Video, accessed 7/22/09]

The Republicans' "plan" includes a tax credit to families that is meant to help offset the costs of health care - a tax credit that is nowhere close to the amount needed to purchase health coverage for the average American family.

• Republican Plan Allots $5,710 Tax Credit For Families To Purchase Health Coverage. "The Patient's Choice Act of 2009 would restore equity in the tax code and give every American, regardless of employment status, the ability to purchase health insurance by: Providing an advanceable and refundable tax credit of $2,290 per individual or $5,710 per family." [Patients Choice Act, 4/09, emphasis added]

• Health Coverage For A Family Of Four "Nearly $12,700." According to the National Health Care Coalition: "The annual premium for an employer health plan covering a family of four averaged nearly $12,700. The annual premium for single coverage averaged over $4,700." [NCHC.org, accessed 5/19/09; emphasis added]