The Obama administration’s top spokesperson on health care was unable to defend the string of promises that already have been broken about the health-care law when questioned before a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on Wednesday.
Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius was clearly flummoxed when questioned by Senator Ron Johnson (R., Wis.). For example, Senator Johnson asked her about the “1,200 to 1,700 waivers” that have been granted to give employers, particularly labor unions, temporary relief from parts of Obamacare. “I’ve no idea what waivers you’re talking about,” Sebelius replied.
Senator Johnson also listed a number of the president’s specific promises about the law, including claims it would reduce the deficit, cut health costs, and allow people to keep their coverage and their doctors. When Sebelius was confronted with the facts, she either said she didn’t have those facts or said the law hadn’t had a chance to work yet.
It was clear that Johnson knew much more about the health law and its impact than the top Obama administration official in charge of implementing it. During his questioning, Senator Johnson took apart Obamacare’s promises one by one:
● Reducing the deficit. “Instead of saving $143 billion, we are adding $54 billion to our deficit, correct?” Johnson asked, breaking down the numbers. The secretary didn’t dispute them. Broken promise number one.
● Health costs rising. Johnson continued: “It is true that the president said that by enacting this health-care law, every family would save $2,500 per year, in their family insurance plan — correct? . . . The Kaiser Family Foundation has already released a study saying that average costs of family health-care plans is up $2,200, correct?” Secretary Sebelius said the exchanges aren’t in place yet so there are no Obamacare savings. “We’re already different by $4,700; it’s going to be hard to get us down to $2,500 cost savings. I would consider that broken promise number two,” Johnson said.
● Employers dropping coverage. Senator Johnson cited a McKinsey & Company study that estimated 30 to 50 percent of employers would drop their employee coverage once the new law is fully implemented, and he said that adding so many more people to taxpayer-subsidized coverage would add hundreds of billions of dollars, if not trillions, to the federal deficit.
Sounds like she knew she could just run down the Senator’s clock and all would be swept under the rug.
Obama teaches “Dithering 101” at his White House, right?
Promises, schmomises. We all know that Obamacare is about 1) continuing to assault the Constitution (and the Founders’ vision of liberty), 2) using government to allow some types of immorality (sexual) while clamping down on others (smoking, overeating) in order to advance the sexual revolution, and 3) growing government size and power.
Once the law is passed, who cares about spurious promises used to promote it?
Sibelius is a blithering idiot.
Sebelius was an idiot when she was the Kansas insurance commissioner and when she was the governor and she is still an idiot.
“Dithering 101”… LOL That’s a great one Nan G.
Apparently in between that class and the evening WH cocktail party, he also coaches “dodge ball”.