It's the Lies That Will Kill Health Care Reform

OutsideTheBeltway discovers the truth. We have been told over and over by Pres.Obama and other Democrat leaders that illegals will NOT be covered by this health care bill. Simply not true:


In what he called the "first myth" being spread by critics of his proposal for a government-run health care system, Obama said they are wrong in claiming illegal immigrants will be covered: "That is not true. Illegal immigrants would not be covered. That idea has not even been on the table." Obama said.
Well, Mr. President, that idea must have been tucked under a stack of background briefing papers over there in the corner of the table because the Congressional Research Service (CRS) says this about H.R. 3200, the Obamacare bill approved just before the recess by the House Energy and Commerce Committee chaired by Rep. Henry Waxman, D-CA:
"Under H.R. 3200, a 'Health Insurance Exchange' would begin operation in 2013 and would offer private plans alongside a public option...H.R. 3200 does not contain any restrictions on noncitzens--whether legally or illegally present, or in the United States temporarily or permanently--participating in the Exchange."

HotAir points out that the reason you haven't heard this is because the CRS reports CRS reports do not get released to the public. CRS offers private analysis to members of Congress on request, but rarely does the public get a look.

David Freddoso got his hands on a copy of the 11-page analysis, "Treatment of Non-Citizens in HR3200″ late last night, and confirmed Tapscott's reading:

In its subsection on health insurance subsidies (known as "affordability credits"), HR 3200 does state, "Nothing in this subtitle shall allow Federal payments for affordability credits on behalf of individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States." That would seem to solve the problem, but it's more rhetoric than reality. The bill contains no verification requirement or enforcement process for citizenship or legal residency, as exists for other federal benefit programs. The only verification required for the subsidies pertains to family income. Beyond that, as the CRS report notes, everything is left in the hands of the Health Choices Commissioner.

House Democrats defeated all attempts in committee to add an enforcement mechanism that would require proof of citizenship or legal residency for those getting subsidies.


It's the same with abortion coverage. They insist it isn't covered, but U.S. News and World News Reports:

The question revolves largely around an amendment to the House healthcare bill that was adopted by the Energy and Commerce Committee last Thursday. The amendment prohibits federal funds from explicitly subsidizing abortion in the private healthcare plans to be offered through the health insurance exchange. But it doesn't prevent "the public health insurance option from providing for or prohibiting coverage" of abortion.

You see what they are doing in both cases, right? It is the sin of omission. In both cases, covering illegals and abortion coverage, it is simply not prevented. This is why they are shooting down specific amendments that would prohibit those things. As long as it isn't prohibited, they can allow it.

Oh, what a tangled web we weave when we practice to deceive....

Update: Charles Krauthammer's on last night's Fox News (via NRO)

What's killing the Obama health plan is not the Republicans, it's not the Blue Dogs, it isn't the rallies in the town meetings. It's numbers. It's reality. Obama says: "I'm going to expand coverage and reduce the cost." And the CBO, the Congressional Budget Office, steps in and gives you numbers. It says: No, it will not reduce. It will increase our costs by $1 trillion.

Obama says: "Oh, yes, [cost might rise] in the first decade , and then it will decline." The CBO says no. There will be an increase in the deficit in the second decade. It's the numbers and the reality that is sinking Obamacare.

....and the lies.