WASHINGTON (CNN) - President Barack Obama on Wednesday promised that any health-care bill approved by Congress won't increase the federal deficit.
In a joint speech to Congress, Obama repeated past statements that savings in the existing health-care system would cover most of the cost of an overhaul bill.
He also sought to ensure the elderly that cutting costs and finding savings in the Medicare program for senior citizens won't diminish the level of service currently provided. In particular, he said that "not a dollar of the Medicare trust fund" would pay for the bill.
However, Obama provided few details of how that would happen, saying the plan would eliminate "unwarranted subsidies in Medicare that go to insurance companies" and create an independent commission of doctors and medicalexperts
to identify further waste.
"These steps will ensure that you – America's seniors – get the benefits you've been promised," Obama said. "They will ensure that Medicare is there for future generations."
He urged the elderly to ignore what he called "scary stories about how your benefits will be cut - especially since some of the same folks who are spreading these tall tales have fought against Medicare in the past."
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
Just changing the regs for home scooters paid out of medicare would save hundreds of millions a year, we need a commission for this. I did not pay a cent to tell you this.
The money Obama saves on medicare reform should be
put back into MEDICARE.
This is exactly why Representative Joe Wilson lost it and blurted out "You lie".
LIE LIE LIE.......... How Mr. President????
"Obama: Health-care reform will not increase deficit"
In related news, Obama said Bigfoot and the Lochness Monster will be his new Healthcare Czars.
Is this guy serious??? Create 54 new gov't buracracies, insure 46 million uninsured, cut $500 billion in Medicare, lower cost and improve care... Now that is Kool-Aid we can believe in!!!
How gullible and ignorant are the libs? Just listen to their messiah as he walks on water and sings We Shall Overcome.
Whats the excuse now Republicans you wanted it you got more informatiion, now what are the Democrats and the Republicans going to do now.
I can believe that Obama's plan will not increase the deficit, not because of reduced waste, but because of increased taxation on those Americans who choose to produce something that is worth money.
Yes, there may be savings–there may not be–but the funding of "a health care check in every pot" will come from increased taxes on those honored to pay taxes.