"Senate-Passed Health Care Bill Would Cut Deficit."

[Clio the Leo]

A glimpse at the much-anticipated CBO score due out today and GOOD news if you're trying to sure up more House Dem votes ....

Senate-Passed Health Care Bill Would Cut Deficit

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: March 11, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Congressional budget referees say Senate legislation that's now the foundation for President Barack Obama's health care plan would cut the federal deficit by $118 billion over 10 years.

The Congressional Budget Office says the $875 billion, 10-year plan would provide coverage to 31 million people who'd otherwise be uninsured. And it says the cost would be more than offset in savings from changes in Medicare and other programs.

Obama's plan would build on the legislation passed by the Senate on Christmas Eve, by expanding subsidies for health insurance premiums, closing the Medicare prescription coverage gap, and making scores of other changes.

No estimates are yet available for Obama's latest proposal, but Democratic leaders want to keep the 10-year cost at around $950 billion.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/03/11/us/politics/AP-US-Health-Overhaul-Cost-Estimate.html

[Deep13]

1. Well, that's fine and all...

...but I wish these politicians were as concerned about making sure everyone has health care as they are about making it budget-neutral.

[zipplewrath]

2. Only the Dems have to be fiscally responsible

Anyone remember the GOP being all that concerned about the cost of the medicare prescription supplement? They whined about it, but they passed it anyway.

[harun]

3. And they only need to be fiscally responsible if it is for services for

the populace. If they were trying to fund a new war for a trillion dollars they would pass it in a week.

[RaleighNCDUer]

8. And then it turned out to cost twice as much as projected. nt

[NJmaverick]

4. This will certainly help get the bill passed

[jenmito]

5. Didn't Pelosi send a bill to the CBO to get scored yesterday? Is this the one?

And what about the "sidecar"-won't that just add more savings since it's taking away "gifts" to certain congressmen?

[Change Happens]

6. No...We may get something back from CBO today or tomorrow!

[jenmito]

7. OK. Thanks! n/t

[Clio the Leo]

9. No, no and yes.....

...... Pelosi didn't send it, the Senate did and I think they sent it Tuesday .... this IS the sidecar/recon/fix/President's plan etc.

And the CBO sore is back.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x217568

This article was just an advance release of it.

[jenmito]

10. Wait-now I'm REALLY confused...

the thread you linked to said, "CBO has just released an estimate of the budgetary effects of the health bill, H.R. 3590, that passed the Senate on December 24." How is it the sidecar/recon/fix/etc.? Sorry to sound so dense. I just don't get it. :hi:

[Festivito]

11. A Single-payer or Robust-Public-Option would lower it by TEN TIMES THAT.

Not a teeny weeny 118B$, it could eliminate 1.5T$ excesses of the 2.4T$/yr health care bill we are paying -- and cover everyone -- and for everything.

That's 1,500 billions of dollars saved versus 118 billions of dollars saved. Not only would the PO or SP save more, they cover more, more people (i.e. everybody), and more procedures (i.e. everything).

[Cha]

12. KickR