Posted by
Defend America on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 8:31:07 AM
Dems' slick fix: $210 billion of fiscal restraint
By: Byron York
Chief Political Correspondent
November 13, 2009
Something
unusual and largely unnoticed happened last week as Democrats pushed
the national health care bill through the House. In a complicated,
late-night maneuver, on a party-line vote, the House Rules Committee
used the health bill to pave the way for a $210 billion increase in
Medicare payments to doctors, without any money budgeted to pay for it.
Congress then combined that $210 billion with a measure that would
force lawmakers to exercise fiscal discipline -- except when it came to
the $210 billion.
It was a particularly slick move, even by congressional standards.
With one vote, committee Democrats managed to propose spending a huge
amount of money while also claiming to clamp down on spending. More
importantly, they threw a very big bone to several physicians
organizations, which badly want the increased doctor payments and to
whom Democrats are deeply indebted for support of health care
legislation. And at the same time, they gave cover to moderate
Democrats, who are under pressure to support health reform but also
fear the wrath of voters concerned about overspending.
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/Dems_-slick-fix_-_210-billion-of-fiscal-restraint-8523304-69917072.html