House passes disasterous health care plan

NY Times:

Over angry Republican objections, the House on Wednesday passed a sweeping expansion of the Children’s Health Insurance Program, financed with increases in tobacco taxes and cuts in subsidies to private Medicare insurance plans for older Americans.

The bill embodies the Democrats’ vision for health care, taking a step toward the goal of universal coverage while reversing what they see as Republican efforts to “privatize Medicare.”

By a vote of 225 to 204, the bill passed, with support from 220 Democrats and 5 Republicans. Ten Democrats joined 194 Republicans in voting against it. The bill would provide coverage for more than four million uninsured children in low-income families, prevent cuts in doctors’ Medicare payments scheduled for Jan. 1 and raise the federal cigarette tax 45 cents a pack, to 84 cents.

It would also increase assistance to low-income Medicare recipients and eliminate co-payments for most preventive care provided to Medicare recipients.

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This is just the kind of ridiculousness that should be expected from Democrats. The bill drastically cuts Medicare benefits for seniors, raise taxes and offers benefits to illegal aliens. In other words it gives incentives for people to come here illegally. Nick Lampson's backing of this bill demonstrates how out of touch he is with his conservative district in the Houston area. He is voting like he is still in a liberal Democrat district. The "children" in this bill can be up to 24 years old.

The Examiner editorial says you know they are lying when they say it is "for the kids." Don Surber looks at the theft from Medicare to pay "for the kids" care. This is a really bad bill. You can tell how hysterical Democrats are by listening to their reaction to the promised veto.