Cooking Health Reform Books

How does one cook health reform books?

One, you make costs seem less than they really are.

Two, you announce OMB-estimated 10 year costs at $849 billion from 2010 to 2019.

Three, you don’t start real spending until 2013. From 2010 to 2013, you spend only $9 billion – a drop in bottomless federal bucket.

Four, in 2014 you start real spending. By 2016, OMB estimates you are pouring $147 billion out of the bucket.

Five, from 2014 to 2023, you know the OMB says costs will run $1.8 trillion, but you don't say to and you don’t care because this is 2009, and you have a bill to pass. Besides, by 2023 the present Congress and present president will be gone. That is for future legislators and generations to worry about.

Six, from 2014 to 2023, you can covertly hike taxes by $892 billion, drain more than $500 billion from Medicare, freeze doctor pay, and increase the federal budget deficit. But you don’t tell the American people you are cutting existing programs and creating higher deficits, and raising taxes.Your mission is to cook the books now, not to be concerned about future thens and theres.

There once was a Senate majority leader named Harry Reid,
He waved his magic wand to accomplish this political deed.
To make true reform costs appear low,
He would start true spending very slow,
By waiting until 2013 to bring true costs up to speed.