12/19/09
from Big Government go there to read the full article with imbedded photos and links.
SOLD: Sen. Nelson’s Bribe
by Publius
We’ll be blunt. The ‘health care reform’ legislation under consideration in the
Senate is the most corrupt piece of legislation in our nation’s history.
Yes, we understand that is a strong statement and there have been other
abominations throughout our nation’s life. But never before did corrupt
legislation threaten to radically and forever change the live’s of every
American.
Exhibit A is the outright bribe extracted by Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Corn
Huckster State) from Sen. Harry Reid. As a result of Nelson’s performance in his
role of Hamlet in the health care deliberations, we will have two health care
systems in this country; one for Nebraska and one for the other 49 states.
In its quixotic attempt to ensure everyone has health insurance, the Reid
legislation greatly expands Medicaid eligibility. Because Medicaid is a program
whose costs are split between the federal and state governments, this expansion
in eligibility raise costs dramatically for states. States will be forced to
either raise taxes or cut other services to accommodate the forced increase in
Medicaid spending.
Unless that state is Nebraska.
Below (see Big Government page) is the text for
Nelson’s bribe. Under this language the federal government will forever cover
the costs of Medicaid expansion in Nebraska. Taxpayers in every other state will
forever be responsible for the expanded Medicaid program in Nebraska.
Outrageous doesn’t do justice to describe this situation. Sen. Nelson also
secured an exemption from a new insurance tax for non-profit companies in his
state. Mutual of Omaha and Nebraska’s Blue Cross/Blue Shield won’t have to pay a
tax other companies will be required to pay.
There is next to nothing honest about the entire health care debate anymore. The
current legislative text was released just hours ago. The first votes are
expected within hours. The health care sector accounts for 1/7th of our economy.
And the “World’s Greatest Deliberative Body” will have just hours to consider
its radical transformation. However much they say the legislation will cost,
don’t believe it. Rarely has a bill been so manipulated to hide its true cost.
Consider this from the most recent CBO estimate of the cost of the legislation:
These longer-term calculations assume that the provisions are enacted and remain
unchanged throughout the next two decades, which is often not the case for major
legislation. For example, the sustainable growth rate (SGR) mechanism governing
Medicare’s payments to physicians has frequently been modified (either through
legislation or administrative action) to avoid reductions in those payments, and
legislation to do so again is currently under consideration in the Congress.
And this,
The legislation would maintain and put into effect a number of procedures that
might be difficult to sustain over a long period of time. Under current law and
under the proposal, payment rates for physicians’ services in Medicare would be
reduced by about 21 percent in 2010 and then decline further in subsequent
years.
(Hey, American Medical Association, how’s that endorsement of this bill working
for you?)
And, this gem:
It is unclear whether such a reduction in the growth rate could be achieved, and
if so, whether it would be accomplished through greater efficiencies in the
delivery of health care or would reduce access to care or diminish the quality
of care.
Soon, 60 Senators will vote for this.
Nelson may not look as much like a whore as Landrieu does, but he did have a negotiated price.
Harry Reid informs America that he now has 60 votes for the Healthcare Bill.