The Obama Health Care Budget: A Trillion Dollar Down Payment on What?
Rory Cooper /
The President’s Budget
- The Actual Cost: The $634 billion in the President’s budget is only a “down payment” on health care reform. Experts believe that the actual cost of Obama’s health care plan could reach $1.6 trillion over 10 years. This is in addition to the trillions of dollars Obama has already spent on health care this year through the stimulus and SCHIP.
- Details, Please: On such an important piece of the President’s budget and agenda, there is little detail on what the Administration expects to spend with the $634 billion down payment. American taxpayers deserve the right to know the key elements of this massive budget proposal.
- Tax Hikes, Again: President Obama’s plan depends on raising taxes on charitable giving and cutting home mortgage deductions to pay for health care. Some in Congress are suggesting using carbon taxes to pay for it. America spends over $2 trillion (or close to 17% of GDP) on health care. When is it enough, and when are taxes not the answer?
- Family Planning: The President’s budget isn’t timid in expressing its goal to expand Medicaid family planning funding. These provisions undermine parental authority by allowing children of any income level to qualify for family planning benefits without parental approval.