FACT CHECK: PRESIDENT’S HEALTH CARE CLAIMS DON’T REFLECT REALITY
July 22, 2009 | House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH)

In a primetime press conference tonight, President Obama again repeated claims that simply do not reflect reality on Capitol Hill.  Despite the President’s rhetoric, the Democrats’ health care bills will increase Americans’ health care costs, add to the federal deficit, and force millions of Americans out of their current health care plans.  Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) responded to the President’s news conference with the following statement:

“Tonight, the President insisted once again that he will not sign a bill that adds to the deficit or does not reduce costs.  If he follows through on his promise he will veto the House Democrats’ bill because the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office says it will make health care more expensive than ever before and adds nearly $240 billion to the deficit.  The American people want health care reform, but not a government-run plan that forces employers to pay a job-killing small business tax, puts bureaucrats in charge of personal medical decisions, and drives tens of millions off of their current coverage.  Families and small businesses deserve better.  It’s time for the President to scrap this costly government takeover and start working with Republicans to make health care more affordable and accessible for the American people.”

Following are just some of the discredited claims the President repeated tonight:

CLAIM: “I have also pledged that health insurance reform will not add to our deficit over the next decade – and I mean it.”
FACT:  On Friday, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its cost estimate on the House Democrats’ legislation and found that it will increase the federal budget deficit by $239 billion over the next 10 years.  And as the Associated Press noted last week: “Congressional Budget Office Director Douglas Elmendorf warned lawmakers the legislation that he has seen so far would raise costs, not lower them. Elmendorf was asked by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad, D-N.S., if the bills Congress is considering would ‘bend the cost curve.’ The budget director responded: ‘The curve is being raised.’”

CLAIM: “If you already have health insurance, the reform we’re proposing will provide you with more security and more stability.  It will keep government out of health care decisions, giving you the option to keep your insurance if you’re happy with it.”
FACT: Both the Associated Press and ABC News have already debunked this pledge, noting that White House officials have acknowledged the president’s rhetoric shouldn’t be taken “literally.”  The Congressional Budget Office found that 23 million Americans would lose their current plans if the Senate Democratic health care “reform” bill becomes law.  Worse yet, an independent study conducted by the Lewin Group predicted that 114 million Americans would be forced out of their current health care coverage, including more than 106 million Americans who currently have employer-provided health care. 

CLAIM: “We will pass reform that lowers cost, promotes choice, and provides coverage that every American can count on.  And we will do it this year.”
FACT:  Republicans agree that Congress should pursue meaningful health care reform, but none of the legislation that Democratic leaders are pursuing at this time actually meet this description.  Instead, their proposals will increase costs, lower quality, and cause millions of Americans to lose their current health coverage. 

CLAIM: “This isn’t about me.  I have great health insurance, and so does every Member of Congress.”
FACT: Just last week, Democrats on the House Ways & Means Committee voted to defeat an amendment offered by Rep. Dean Heller (R-NV) – by a vote of 21-18 – to require all members of Congress to get insurance through the government-run plan – proving Democrats do not think the government-plan will provide quality health care.  Republicans voted in favor of the amendment, believing if it is good enough for the American people, it should be good enough for members of Congress.

CLAIM: “And the Recovery Act will continue to save and create more jobs over the next two years – just like it was designed to do.”
FACT: First, the Administration promised the stimulus will “save or create” 3.5 to 4 million jobs.  It also promised that it would start doing so IMMEDIATELY – a claim that remains on the White House website today.  We now know that more than two million jobs have been lost since the stimulus was enacted in February and unemployment has now risen to 9.5 percent, far above the eight percent the Administration promised if their trillion-dollar ‘stimulus’ was passed.

REPUBLICAN LEADER PRESS OFFICE
REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R-OH)
H-204, THE CAPITOL
(202) 225-4000 | GOPLEADER.GOV