Research Briefing

THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE’S EDITORIAL BOARD: “This Health Care Reform Is A Budget Disaster That Will Spurt Red Like A Severed Artery For Years To Come.” (Editorial, “Health Care Arms Race,” The Chicago Tribune, 5/10/10)

OBAMACARE’S SPENDING INCREASES WILL WIPE OUT NEARLY ALL OF ITS SO-CALLED SAVINGS

CBO Says Discretionary Spending For ObamaCare Will Be “A Minimum Of $115 Billion Over 10 Years.” “An updated Congressional Budget Office analysis released Tuesday estimates potential discretionary spending under the health care overhaul law at a minimum of $115 billion over 10 years — more than twice the size of the estimate released by the budget office shortly before President Obama signed the measure. CBO estimated a minimum of $50 billion in potential discretionary spending in its earlier forecast, released March 13.” (John Reichard, “CBO Adds $115 Billion In Discretionary Spending To Price Tag Of Health Care Law,” CQ Today, 5/11/10)

• Including $10 Billion To $20 Billion For Administrative Costs At HHS And The IRS. “The Congressional Budget Office expects the federal agencies to spend $10 billion to $20 billion over 10 years on administrative costs to implement the overhaul. … The Department of Health and Human Services is expected to need $5 billion to $10 billion to implement changes in Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program and insurance industry reforms, according to CBO estimates. The nonpartisan CBO expects the Internal Revenue Service to spend another $5 billion to $10 billion on implementing the rules regarding premiums and cost-sharing credits.” (Jennifer Haberkorn, “CBO Ups Health Care Cost Projections,” Politico, 5/12/10)

Wiping Out Nearly All Of The $143 Billion In So-Called Cost Savings From Original CBO Score Of ObamaCare. (Congressional Budget Office, Letter To House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 3/20/10)

AND MORE STATES JOIN FIGHT AGAINST MANDATE

TO PURCHASE GOVERNMENT-APPROVED INSURANCE

33 States Are Fighting ObamaCare’s Individual Mandate. “Efforts to block a key provision of the new health-care overhaul law are underway in 33 states, as a growing roster of mostly Republican officials have mounted legal and legislative challenges to an eventual requirement that virtually all Americans buy health insurance or pay a penalty tax. This Friday, seven more states will formally join a lawsuit originally filed by Florida and 12 other states in late March. The suit, filed in a U.S. District Court in Florida, contends that Congress lacks the constitutional authority to mandate an individual's participation in an insurance plan, and that it has infringed on states' rights by requiring them to extend coverage to more low-income residents without fully funding the additional cost.” (N.C. Aizenman, “Health-Care Overhaul Is Up Against Long Campaign Across U.S.,” The Washington Post, 5/12/10)

Yesterday, Missouri Lawmakers Set An August Vote On A Referendum On ObamaCare’s Individual Mandate. “Missouri lawmakers on Tuesday set an August vote on a referendum that will allow Missourians to voice their opinions on the federal health care legislation that passed earlier this year. The Aug. 3 ballot issue will ask voters to decide whether to amend state statutes to ‘deny the government authority to penalize citizens for refusing to purchase private health insurance.’” (Tony Messenger, “Missouri Legislature Put Health-Care Reform Referendum On August Ballot,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 5/12/10)

Voters In Arizona, Florida, And Oklahoma Will Vote On Similar Referendums In November. “The Missouri vote will be the first among several similar votes in the nation. Arizona, Florida and Oklahoma will vote on similar measures in November.” (Tony Messenger, “Missouri Legislature Put Health-Care Reform Referendum On August Ballot,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 5/12/10)