Medicare’s chief actuary says rosy ObamaCare projections are complete nonsense
The Obama administration just got caught trying to slip another one past the American people. They used data in the annual Medicare Trustees Report to prove that that ObamaCare would inject new life in the Medicare monster.
Unfortunately for the President, that argument didn’t hold up when economics21.org analyzed the report and learned that Medicare’s own chief actuary disagrees. Strongly disagrees, in fact. He says they underestimated future costs by 68%.
To repeat, the administration underestimated costs by a remarkable 68%:
68%! They underestimated Medicare costs by a remarkable 68%.
“(T)he financial projections shown in this report for Medicare do not represent a reasonable expectation for actual program operations in either the short range. . . or the long range. . . . I encourage readers to review the ‘illustrative alternative’ projections that are based on more sustainable assumptions for physician and other Medicare price updates.”
These remarkable words are found, in all places, in the “Statement of Actuarial Opinion” in the back of the 2010 annual Medicare Trustees’ Report.
It is difficult to overstate how unusual this development is. The normal process with the annual Trustees’ Reports is for the Trustees to develop and publish the best available projections for the future finances of Social Security and Medicare. The respective Social Security and Medicare actuaries then sign a pro forma blessing of those projections, which is tacked to the back of the report when released to the public.
This year, the Medicare Chief Actuary clearly did not feel he could in good conscience sign such a declaration.
Our initial inclination was to criticize the Obama administration on this error. But on second thought, we say it deserves a little credit here. After all, they’re only off by 68% and that’s a lot closer than they’ve come on any of their other economic projections.
Missouri’s Proposition C, dubbed the “anti-ObamaCare law”, would create a new state law against federal mandates that require people to buy health insurance. It passed last night by nearly a 3-to-1 margin
Missouri’s Proposition C, dubbed the “anti-ObamaCare law,” would create a new state law against federal mandates that require people to buy health insurance. It passed last night by nearly a 3-to-1 margin.
The final tally: 620,284 (72.7%) against ObamaCare and a mere 233,118 (27.3%) in favor.
Consider this a shot across the bow of the U.S.S. Obama. Consider it a preview of November. Consider it Lexington of the Second American Revolution. Consider us out of metaphors.
Fox4KC reports the overwhelming ObamaCare opt out:
All eyes will be on Missouri’s Proposition C results because it’s the first time voters in the country vote for or against the new federal health care law. Basically Proposition C would create a state law against federal mandates requiring people to buy health insurance.
Missouri’s top U.S. Senate candidates are divided on the measure. If passed, it will will reject part of the new federal health care law. Republicans Roy Blunt and Chuck Purgason both support Proposition C. Democrat Robin Carnahan plans to vote against it.
Notice the liberal slant even in this local Fox News report. They interview two people: One says he’s against Measure C because he needs healthcare and the other says, “I support it, but it’ll never work.”
We can’t have a second American Revolution without some of those cool little tri-corner hats. Anybody know where we can get one?
They said the individual mandate wasn’t a tax, but now it turns out it is. They said you could keep your own insurance, but now it turns out you can’t. They said ObamaCare wouldn’t fund abortions, but now it turns out it will. They said ObamaCare wouldn’t be extended to illegal aliens, but now…
The international symbol for "Illegal aliens taking their children to the doctor"
They said the individual mandate wasn’t a tax, but now it turns out it is. They said you could keep your own insurance, but now it turns out you can’t. They said ObamaCare wouldn’t fund abortions, but now it turns out it will. They said ObamaCare wouldn’t be extended to illegal aliens, but now…
Politico.com has the details:
A group of Democratic lawmakers wants to use the immigration reform debate to fix one of the most hotly contested aspects of the health care law … The move by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus would add a contentious new element to an already monumental task — passing a bill that puts 11 million illegal immigrants on a path to citizenship. But the lawmakers say they’re merely following through on a pledge they made when the health care overhaul passed in March, and they expect the White House and Democratic leadership to do the same.
Barack Obama? He wants to know how fat each and every American is. In fact, he demands to know.
"Put down the Twinkie and step away from the refrigerator. The Fat Police are watching you."
George Washington didn’t care how if your ancestors were packing a few extra pounds. Neither did Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, nor even LBJ. And Bill Clinton definitely didn’t care.
But Barack Obama? He wants to know how fat each and every American is. In fact, he demands to know.
CNSnews.com has the disturbing dietary details:
New federal regulations issued this week stipulate that the electronic health records — that all Americans are supposed to have by 2014 under the terms of the stimulus law that President Barack Obama signed last year — must record not only the traditional measures of height and weight, but also the Body Mass Index: a measure of obesity.
The obesity-rating regulation states that every American’s electronic health record must: “Calculate body mass index. Automatically calculate and display body mass index (BMI) based on a patient’s height and weight.”
The law also requires that these electronic health records be available — with appropriate security measures — on a national exchange.
Remarkable. Would you be surprised if this administration begins issuing tickets and assessing fines for being overweight?
Obama insisted to George Stephanoplous back in May 2009 that the Obamacare individual mandate was not a tax. Now his administrations argues it is.
Remember this contentious interview President Obama did with George Stephanoplous back in May 2009? The President insisted that the individual mandate called for under ObamaCare was not a tax and Stephanopolous pulled out the dictionary definition of a tax.
Turns out Obama had his fingers crossed, because his administration has now gone to court to defend ObamaCare and the key to their defense is that the individual mandate is a tax.
The New York Times has the details of the deception:
Administration officials say the tax argument is a linchpin of their legal case in defense of the health care overhaul and its individual mandate, now being challenged in court by more than 20 states and several private organizations.
Under the legislation signed by President Obama in March, most Americans will have to maintain “minimum essential coverage” starting in 2014. Many people will be eligible for federal subsidies to help them pay premiums.
In a brief defending the law, the Justice Department says the requirement for people to carry insurance or pay the penalty is “a valid exercise” of Congress’s power to impose taxes.
Congress can use its taxing power “even for purposes that would exceed its powers under other provisions” of the Constitution, the department said. For more than a century, it added, the Supreme Court has held that Congress can tax activities that it could not reach by using its power to regulate commerce.
Tax everyone! For everything! Tax ‘til the cows come home. Then tax the cows! And their milk! And the cartons it goes in! And then tax the trash you throw the cartons in! And then tax the tax!
From her safe, secure, ultra-liberal bunker in San Francisco, out of touch Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has issued suicide marching orders for her Democrat house minions.
Princess Pelosi of San Franciscostan seems to be a bit out of touch with her people
From her safe, secure, ultra-liberal bunker in San Francisco, out of touch Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has issued suicide marching orders for her Democrat house minions:
Hold town hall meetings and tell your constituents how proud you are of your vote for ObamaCare.
The Hill ruminates on Pelosi’s political hallucinations:
Speaker Nancy Pelosi is doubling down on healthcare reform, betting that it will do Democrats more good than harm in November’s elections.
She and her leadership team have seized on new polls that suggest healthcare overhaul’s popularity is rising, and they are urging members of Congress to use this week’s recess to tout the new law.
Pelosi (D-Calif.) and the party leadership have sent lawmakers back to their districts urging them to hold town hall-type meetings to highlight the law’s benefits, in the belief it could help Democrats avoid major losses in November.
Recent polls indicate a slow but steady uptick in the popularity of healthcare reform. Despite Republican hopes that the law’s controversial passage will win them seats this fall, the Democrats’ actions show they still consider the issue a political winner.
One can only assume that Pelosi and the rest of the House leadeship missed the latest Rasmussen study that shows 60% of likely voters want ObamaCare repealed.
But The Pelosi is The Pelosi and her world view extends no further than the Bay Bridge – the one she’s urging fellow Democrats to jump from.
If nothing else, this should make for some good video clips.
Oh, how times change. Now the Obama Administration is arguing in court that the healthcare individual mandate really is a tax.
In case you’ve tried to block the whole ObamaCare debate from your mind, this video clip shows President Obama sternly correcting George Stephanopolous when the ABC host called the individual mandate “a tax.”
Oh, how times change. Now the administration is arguing in court that it really is a tax.
Perhaps socializing the American economy and shredding the Constitution isn’t your real passion, Nancy. Perhaps it’s just something you’re doing to while away the time until the full glories of ObamaCare kick in in 2013 or 2014 or whenever. If that’s the case, Nancy honey, IHateTheMedia.com would like to put our money where your mouth is by making the following offer:
Nancy Pelosi calls ObamaCare an “entrepreneurial bill.” But as you might expect, her definition of “entrepreneurial” can’t be found in any dictionary.
“We see it as an entrepreneurial bill,” the Speaker of the House said, “a bill that says to someone, if you want to be creative and be a musician or whatever, you can leave your work, focus on your talent, your skill, your passion, your aspirations because you will have health care.”
Perhaps socializing the American economy and shredding the Constitution isn’t your real passion, Nancy. Perhaps it’s just something you’re doing to while away the time until the full glories of ObamaCare kick in in 2013 or 2014 or whenever.
If that’s the case, Nancy honey, IHateTheMedia.com would like to put our money where your mouth is by making the following offer:
We will gladly pick up the tab for your health insurance so you can resign that current dreary job of yours and discover your true passion now.
Do it, Nancy. Resign that job today and IHateTheMedia.com will gladly pay 100% of the healthcare costs for you and your family.
In a sign that desperation is running rampant in Arlen Specter’s Pennsylvania Democrat senate primary race, the former Republican has turned to President Obama for artificial resuscitation.
In a sign that desperation is running rampant in Arlen Specter’s Pennsylvania Democrat senate primary race, the former Republican has turned to President Obama for artificial resuscitation.
That’s right. Despite Obama’s record of being the grim reaper of Democrat endorsers, the President has cut a new TV commercial that actually praises Specter for casting the deciding vote on ObamaCare.
These two were made for each other. But we doubt that either of them are made for the voters of Pennsylvania.
In this video clip, Orszag discusses the immense powers (including the power to determine levels of care and reimbursement) granted to the unelected Independent Payment Advisory board under ObamaCare.
We’re paraphrasing his comments, but can any other conclusion possibly be drawn from his Peter Orszag’s comments?
In this video clip, Orszag discusses the immense powers (including the power to determine levels of care and reimbursement) granted to the unelected Independent Payment Advisory board under ObamaCare.
Orszag also reveals that the word “advisory” is a farce, because the panel can do pretty much anything it wants unless it is specifically voted down by congress and signed by the President.
Please note the one word Orszag doesn’t mention: Doctors.
It was just a few weeks ago that the President proudly announced that ObamaCare could cut medical premiums by a mathematically-impossible 3000%. Well, mathematically-impossible or not, they’re going to give it a try by giving state regulators new, broader powers to reject premium increases they don’t like.
Well, mathematically-impossible or not, they’re going to give it a try by giving state regulators new, broader powers to reject premium increases they don’t like.
The Wall Street Journal reports:
When President Obama signed his health-care reform last month, he declared it will “lower costs for families and for businesses and for the federal government.”
So why, barely a month later, are Democrats scrambling to pass a new bill that would impose price controls on insurance?
In now-they-tell-us hearings on Tuesday, the Senate health committee debated a bill that would give states the power to reject premium increases that state regulators determine are “unreasonable.” The White House proposed this just before the final Obama-Care scramble, but it couldn’t be included because it violated the procedural rules that Democrats abused to pass the bill.
Looks like Nancy Pelosi was right – they had to pass the bill to find out what was in it.
Democrat Xavier Baccera of California embarrassed himself by going on Neil Cavuto’s show and blaming everyone but the Democrats for the fact that Congress’ unwittingly eliminated its own sweetheart healthcare program when it approved ObamaCare.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCzl2psJFN8
Socialist Democrat Xavier Baccera of California embarrassed himself by going on Neil Cavuto’s show and blaming everyone but the Democrats for the fact that Congress’ unwittingly eliminated its own sweetheart healthcare program when it approved ObamaCare.
But we seem to be making progress. At least he didn’t blame George Bush nor Ronald Reagan.
Henry Waxman didn’t realize that the companies are required to make announcements as a result of Sarbanes-Oxley regulations that he had supported. So Joe Barton straightened out Waxman.
We love Texas congressman Joe Barton. And this video clip demonstrates why.
Waxman was pissed that companies like AT&T, Caterpillar, John Deere and Verizon blamed ObamaCare for billions of dollars in unexpected charges, so the little weasel ordered them to appear before Congress to explain themselves.
Congressional intimidation at its finest.
Apparently, Waxman didn’t realize that the companies are required to make those announcements as a result of Sarbanes-Oxley regulations that he had supported.
So Barton went down on the floor of the House and, shall we say, straightened out Waxman.
A small handful of concerned citizens, self-dubbed “coffee partiers”, descended on bucolic West Belleville, Illinois in a show of support for ObamaCare and in opposition to the evil, racist tea partiers. The Belleville News-Democrat (naturally) tells the story of this massive liberal success.
Later in the day, the crowd swelled to almost seven.
Millionsthousandshundredsdozens A small handful of concerned citizens, self-dubbed “coffee partiers”, descended on bucolic West Belleville, Illinois in a show of support for ObamaCare and in opposition to the evil, racist tea partiers.
The Belleville News-Democrat (naturally) tells the story of this massive liberal success:
West Belleville resident Jenny Moon was frustrated with her observations of the political system.
Earlier this year, she joined a Facebook group that has concerns about extreme political tactics and partisan bickering.
“A lot of people were disgruntled with how politics is gridlocked right now,” Moon said.
On Saturday, she hosted the first Coffee Party USA in Belleville. It was open to the public.
Of the seven people who met midday at Oregon Trail Roasting Co. at 201 W. Main St. in Belleville, only three had a cup of coffee. One drank a Fitz’s root beer.
The group, which started in January, wants to see cooperation in government, according to its Web site. Participants will set plans for “Coffee With Congress,” which are meetings with lawmakers.
Some people at the Belleville meeting claimed to be Republicans, some were Democrats, while others were independents or confused.
The last word of the story is not only classic, it’s absolutely accurate.
Source: Belleville News-Democrat via Gateway Pundit
In a state where ObamaCare and illegal aliens are about as popular as gonorrhea, the Senate majority leader has unwisely announced that “We’re gonna do immigration reform just like we did healthcare reform.” And he pledges to bring it up this year. As in prior to the election in which he already lags far behind every potential opponent.
In a state where ObamaCare and illegal aliens are about as popular as gonorrhea, the Senate majority leader has unwisely announced that “We’re gonna do immigration reform just like we did healthcare reform.” And he pledges to bring it up this year. As in prior to the election in which he already lags far behind every potential opponent.
Interesting strategy, soon-to-be former Senator Reid.
”It’s like the back of the refrigerator. You see all these wires and the rest,” said Pelosi. “All you need to know is, you open the door. The light goes on….”
KCBS.com reports on Nancy Pelosi’s ObamaCare Simile of the Day:
The Speaker compared it to the enactment of social security, medicare and the civil rights act.
And while she said it may not be perfect, it’s a bold step in the right direction.
”It’s like the back of the refrigerator. You see all these wires and the rest,” said Pelosi. “All you need to know is, you open the door. The light goes on….”
Yeah, it’s like when the light goes on and you realize that you should have stopped at the grocery store on the way home because the refrigerator is absolutely empty. And the only thing left in the house is a can of tuna. And you eat it standing over the kitchen sink.
Hey, c’mon, our simile is no worse than soon-to-be-former Speaker Pelosi’s.
The North Andover Eagle-Tribune reports the ObamaCare Metaphor of the Day:
Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter told a boisterous crowd last night that the recently enacted health care reform bill is imperfect but needed.
“It is getting the train out of the station,” she said.
Absolutely correct. The ObamaCare Special has left the station and is now speeding down the tracks in one direction. Unfortunately, the DebtBomb Special racing down the same tracks in the opposite direction.
Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, the extreme leftist representative from Florida, is either delusional or a liar. Or maybe both. In this clip, she tells a group of her constituents that levying fines on people who don’t buy insurance is different than requiring them to buy insurance. Completely different. No comparison at all.
Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, the extreme leftist representative from Florida, is either delusional or a liar. Or maybe both.
In this clip, she tells a group of her constituents that levying fines on people who don’t buy insurance is different than requiring them to buy insurance. Completely different. No comparison at all.
Wasserman-Schultz admits that if you don’t buy insurance, the government will hit you with a hefty fine, but no, she insists, that’s not the same as requiring you to buy insurance.
She said it with an absolutely straight face, which leads to the frightening thought that she may actually believe what she’s saying.
Blanche Lincoln, Arkansas’ Democrat Senator, is quickly learning the price of her vote in favor of ObamaCare. The latest poll show that she’s trailing five – count ‘em, five – different Republicans.
Senator Blanche Lincoln will soon be former Senator Blanche Lincoln
Blanche Lincoln, Arkansas’ Democrat Senator, is quickly learning the price of her vote in favor of ObamaCare. The latest poll show that she’s trailing five – count ‘em, five – different Republicans.
In fact, it looks like she could lose to pretty much anyone who doesn’t have a “D” after their name. Look for members of the Whig and Bullmoose parties to throw their hats into the wide open ring.
Rasmussen reports the depressing Democrat details:
Four of Arkansas Senator Blanche Lincoln’s Republican opponents now earn more than 50% of the vote as her path to reelection grows even steeper.
The numbers are closer when Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter is the Democrat in the race, but only because there are more undecided voters.
A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in Arkansas, where opposition to the national health care plan is even higher than it is nationally, finds both Democrats stuck in the mid-30s. This suggests that the race continues to be more anti-Democrat in tone than pro-Republican.
Congressman John Boozman, State Senate Republican leader Kim Hendren, State Senator Gilbert Baker and former State Senator Jim Holt all earn 51% of the vote against Lincoln. She in turn picks up 36% support against three of the GOP hopefuls and 35% when matched against Holt.
A fifth Republican, businessman Curtis Coleman, leads Lincoln 48% to 36%.
In every case, the Republicans have gained support, while Lincoln, who earned 38% to 41% in the match-ups last month, has lost ground. Now her numbers are back to the lows she experienced in February.
Bye bye, Blanche. Don’t let the door hit you in the rotunda on the way out.
Why have the American people not yet bowed down en masse to thank The Greatest President In History for the blessings of ObamaCare? According to President Obama it’s because people are just too damn impatient.
Why have the American people not yet bowed down en masse to thank The Greatest President In History for the blessings of ObamaCare? According to President Obama it’s because people are just too damn impatient.
“It just happened last week! It’s only been a week! Can you imagine if some of these reporters were working on a farm and you planted some seeds and they came out next day and they looked — ‘Nothing’s happened! There’s no crop! We’re going to starve! Oh no! It’s a disaster!’ It’s been a week, folks.”
Might we note that there’s one thing farming and ObamaCare have in common: Liberal amounts of bullshit are required to make either one succeed.
You can always count on getting a good laugh from the comedy stylings of the New York Times’ Paul Krugman. In this interview with Jake Tapper, he sets the record straight and calls death panels by their proper name, which is … uhhhh … death panels.
You can always count on getting a good laugh from the comedy stylings of the New York Times’ Paul Krugman.
In this interview with Jake Tapper, he sets the record straight and calls death panels by their proper name, which is … uhhhh … death panels.
But that’s ok, because like every other provision of ObamaCare, they’ll save us money. Big money. Lots of money. Piles of money.
Krugman: Think about people on the right. They’re simultaneously screaming, they’re going to send all of the old people to death panels and it’s not going to save any money. That’s a contradictory point of view.
Tapper: Death panels would save money, theoretically.
Krugman: The advisory path has the ability to make more or less binding judgments on saying this particular expensive treatment actually doesn’t do any good medically and so we’re not going to pay for it. That is actually going to save quite a lot of money. We don’t know how much yet. The CBO gives it very little credit. But most of the health care economists I talk to think it’s going to be a really major cost saving.
This just in. Sarah Palin would like to thank Mr. Krugman for his inadvertent support.
Good god, man, just when we knew Hank Johnson (D-GA) was hands down the dumbest guy in congress, Rep. Phil Hare (D-IL) runs into the spotlight and hollers, “Hey, look at me.”
Good god, man, just when we knew Hank Johnson (D-GA) was hands down the dumbest guy in congress, Rep. Phil Hare (D-IL) runs into the spotlight and hollers, “Hey, look at me.”
Hare told a disgruntled group of constituents, “I care more about the people who are dying every day than the Constitution in this.” When one of the angry voters pointed out that Hare had sworn to uphold the Constitution, the congressman quoted from the document.
Unfortunately, the constituent pointed out that instead of quoting the Constitution, Hare had actually quoted the Declaration of Independence and didn’t appear to know the difference between the two.
Finally, Hare told his constituents that he read the incredibly complex 2500+ page ObamaCare bill three times before he voted for it. When it was pointed out that that’s a page a minute every minute of the day and night between the time the bill was posted and when it was voted on, Hare did what any self-respecting congressman would do – he shrugged he shoulders, did a head fake, and ran for his car.
Let this be a lesson to the voters of Illinois:
Never vote for a congressman who looks like Barney Rubble.
Turns out a little known provision of ObamaCare has come to light. A brand new tax to be withheld from your paycheck. They call it voluntary, but the extra tax will be automatically withheld from your paycheck unless you opt out.
We don’t remember the congressional debate about long term care for the elderly, do you? We must have gone into the kitchen for a sandwich while that one was being discussed.
Turns out a little known provision of ObamaCare has come to light. A brand new tax to be withheld from your paycheck. They call it voluntary, but the extra tax will be automatically withheld from your paycheck unless you opt out.
And, if we’re not mistaken, this one also breaks Obama’s pledge not to raise taxes on anyone making under $250,000 per year.
Long-term care for the elderly. Just another of those surprising little provisions buried deep within ObamaCare.
Author Jason Mattera waylays Minnesota’s finest senator and asks him why skate parks, jungle gyms, midnight basketball and time off for breastfeeding mothers should be the federal government’s responsibility.
Franken not only proves that he doesn’t know what’s in the bill, but simultaneously proves that he’s a thoroughly unlikable person.
Author Jason Mattera waylays Minnesota’s finest senator and asks him why skate parks, jungle gyms, midnight basketball and time off for breastfeeding mothers should be the federal government’s responsibility.
Franken not only proves that he doesn’t know what’s in the bill, but simultaneously proves that he’s a thoroughly unlikable person.
