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May 12, 2010 -

Second Opinion: As White House Health Care Campaign Kicks Off, Will the President Mention Law Will Cost Billions More?

Law Breaks President’s Promise Not to Add A Dime to the Deficit

As the Washington Post recently reported “the Obama Administration’s campaign to sell the new health care law to a skeptical public is beginning to take shape.” 

The American people deserve the facts – not more spin.

Unfortunately, President Obama and Administration officials probably won’t tell the American people that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) predicted yesterday that the new law will cost billions of dollars more than predicted.   Congress Daily outlined the report in a story today:

“CBO released a report Tuesday concluding that authorized costs in the health care overhaul law could exceed $115 billion over the next 10 years.”

Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) spoke on the Senate floor about the CBO report and the doctor shortage in America.  Excerpts include:

“The revelation yesterday from the Congressional Budget Office is that when you take a look at some of the things that hadn't been scored, as they say, cost it out, it is going to add another $115 billion on top of that.

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“Recently the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, had an epiphany.  An epiphany about the doctor shortage in America.

“Last week she said, a nationwide primary care physician shortage had to be addressed before over 30 million Americans get access to subsidized health insurance coverage.

“She said, ‘how are we going to be ready when we already have a shortage in too many parts of the country?’

“The American Association of Medical Colleges tells us, at the current graduation and training rates, we are facing a shortage of 150,000 doctors in the next 15 years.

“Over the past year, medical experts warned Congress -- warned this body, warned the Administration -- that any health reform bill should tackle the issue of physician shortages. 

“But instead of helping doctors, the new law actually discourages the next generation from becoming doctors.

“This new bill cuts payments for doctors and cuts payments for patients on Medicare, and it doesn't include enough money to train new doctors.

“Maybe the Secretary -- maybe the Obama Administration, maybe Democrats in Congress should have paid attention to the experts before jamming this health care law down the throats of the American people.

“Maybe they should have heeded the calls that I heard from medical professionals all across Wyoming and across the country: Slow down.  Let's get it right.

“But, no, they didn't.

“And now the American people are stuck with a law that costs too much, doesn't solve America’s doctor shortage, doesn't even address it and doesn't deliver good care for patients.”

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