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White House to House Democrats: We Want to Buy Your Votes For Gov't Takeover of Health Care
President Obama Reverses Course, Will Alow "Unpopular Deal-Sweetening Measures" to Force Health Care Bill Through Congress
Washington
(Mar 15)
So this is what it’s come to: President Obama is “ready to reverse his position” and “allow unpopular deal-sweetening measures” in order to buy the votes needed to force a government takeover of health care through Congress. This stunning reversal comes just a day after Democratic leaders confirmed they still do not have enough support to win final passage. In other words, name your price, House Democrats. Step right up.
President Obama’s latest broken promise protects a whole host of already-infamous kickbacks, payoffs, and sweetheart deals, including the “Louisiana Purchase” and a $100 million hospital earmark for Connecticut. But what’s next? It’s always been clear that President Obama is willing to say and do anything to defy the will of the people and force his job-killing health care plan through Congress. Just how many backroom deals is President Obama going to make on the backs of American taxpayers in order to force this bill down the throats of the American people? Which lawmaker will be the recipient of the next “Cornhusker Kickback”?
The Associated Press notes that President Obama “appears ready to reverse his position and allow unpopular deal-sweetening measures” just days after the White House “singled them out as items Obama wanted removed”:
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“Still seeking votes for his proposed health care overhaul, President Barack Obama appears ready to reverse his position and allow unpopular deal-sweetening measures in the hopes of finding Democratic support for legislation whose future will be decided in coming days. … Taking a new position, [White House senior adviser David] Axelrod said the White House only objects to state-specific arrangements, such as an increase in Medicaid funding for Nebraska, ridiculed as the ‘Cornhusker Kickback.’ That’s being cut, but provisions that could affect more than one state are OK, Axelrod said.
“That means that deals sought by senators from Montana and Connecticut would be fine — even though Gibbs last week singled them out as items Obama wanted removed. There was resistance, however, from two powerful committee chairman, Democratic Sens. Max Baucus of Montana and Chris Dodd of Connecticut, and the White House has apparently backed down.”
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WHITE HOUSE TO HOUSE DEMOCRATS: WE WANT TO BUY YOUR VOTES FOR GOV’T TAKEOVER OF HEALTH CARE
Just days ago, House Democrats reassured the American people that “controversial side deals” would be stripped from the bill: “House leaders reassured members that two of the most controversial side deals — the so-called Cornhusker Kickback and more Medicare Advantage money for Florida — would be stripped out of the reconciliation bill. But it appeared that the ‘Louisiana Purchase’ — $300 million in additional Medicaid money for the state — and a $100 million hospital grant program requested by Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) will remain in the legislation, sources said.” (Politico, 3/12/10)
Taxpayer dollars are just getting added to a pot of sweeteners that already includes political favors: “The health care debate is unfolding against the backdrop of an already difficult political year for Democrats. The White House has signaled to lawmakers that assistance for midterm elections — for example, presidential visits and fund-raisers — will be prioritized for those who support the bill.” (The New York Times, 3/15/10)
What’s in it for taxpayers? Higher premiums, reduced Medicare benefits, fewer jobs, more regulation, more mandates. That’s why Americans are urging Democrats in Washington to scrap this job-killing monstrosity and start over on common-sense reforms that would actually lower costs. Republicans have offered a plan to lower premiums for families and small businesses by up to 10 percent, which is exactly what the American people want.
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