Research Briefing

Democrats Ignoring American People As They Rush Through Their Health Care Experiment

AMERICANS ARE CLEARLY SAYING THEY DON’T WANT DEMOCRATS’ GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH CARE EXPERIMENT

CNN Poll: 61% Of Americans Oppose Dems’ Health Care Bill. “As you may know, the U.S. Senate is considering a bill that would make major changes in the country's health care system. Based on what you have read or heard about that bill, do you generally favor it or generally oppose it? Dec. 2-3 2009 Favor 36% Oppose 61%.” (“CNN Opinion Research Poll,” CNN, 12/10/09)

• 79% Of Americans Believe Dem Health Care Bill Would Increase Deficit. “If a bill similar to the one that the Senate is considering becomes law, do you think the federal budget deficit would or would not increase? Dec. 2-3 2009 Would happen 79% Would not happen 19% No opinion 2%.” (“CNN Opinion Research Poll,” CNN, 12/10/09)
• 85% Of Americans Believe Their Taxes Would Be Raised Under Dem Health Care Bill. “If a bill similar to the one that the Senate is considering becomes law, do you think your taxes would or would not increase? Dec. 2-3 2009 Would happen 85% Would not happen 14% No opinion 1%.” (“CNN Opinion Research Poll,” CNN, 12/10/09)

Bloomberg: “Sixty-Two Percent Of Americans Say They Are Mostly Pessimistic They Would Benefit From Any Bill.” (“Obama’s War Plan Gains Amid Doubts On Domestic Policy,” Bloomberg, 12/9/09)

Public Policy Polling: “Support For Obama On Health Care Has Hit Another New Low With Just 39% Of Voters Now Expressing Approval Of His Health Care Plans And 52% Opposed.” (“Obama’s December Standing,” Public Policy Polling, 12/9/09)

FOX News Poll: “A Majority -- 57 Percent -- Oppose The Health Care Reform Legislation Being Considered Right Now.  About A Third Of Americans -- 34 Percent -- Favor The Reforms.” (“Fox News Poll: Congress Should Hold Off On Health Care,” Fox Business, 12/10/09)

• “Nearly Two-Thirds Of Americans (64 Percent) Think The Reforms Will Cost Them Money, Up From 58 Percent Who Thought So Previously (July 2009).  Fewer Than One In Four People -- 23 Percent -- Currently Think The Plan Will Save Them Money.” (“Fox News Poll: Congress Should Hold Off On Health Care,” Fox Business, 12/10/09)
• “By 52 Percent To 28 Percent, Americans Say The Quality Of Health Care Their Family Receives Would Be Worse Under The Proposed Plan.” (“Fox News Poll: Congress Should Hold Off On Health Care,” Fox Business, 12/10/09)

NYT/CBS News Poll: Only 42% Of Americans Approve Of Obama’s Handling Of Health Care. “42 percent approve of the way [President Obama] is handling health care, down five percentage points in the last few months.” (“Poll Finds Slim Majority Back More Troops In Afghan War,” The New York Times, 12/10/09)

Quinnipiac: “Voters Disapprove 52 - 38 Percent Of The Health Care Reform Proposal Under Consideration In Congress, And They Disapprove 56 - 38 Percent Of President Obama's Handling Of Health Care.” (“Obama Approval Falls To New Low, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds,” Quinnipiac University, 12/9/09)

BUT DEMOCRATS DON’T CARE, AND WILL “DO ALMOST ANYTHING” TO STEAMROLL PUBLIC OPPOSITION AND RAM BILL THROUGH

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: "I Think We Would Do Almost Anything To Pass A Healthcare Bill." (Mike Soraghan, "Pelosi: 'We Would Do Almost Anything To Pass A Healthcare Bill'," The Hill, 12/10/09)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Is Forcing Senate To Work Weekends To Ram Through Bill. “Nothing could be more important than this. We notified everybody prior to the break we would be working weekends.” (Sen. Reid, Congressional Record, S.11980, 11/30/09)

House Dem Leadership Used Strategy Of Breaking Bones And Twisting Arms To Get Bill Done. “‘Why are we rushing it?’ asked Mr. Melancon, a Blue Dog on the Energy and Commerce Committee. ‘Let's get it right.’ … ‘We're going to need some orthopedists around here to take care of the broken bones and twisted arms,’ he said.’” (David Herszenhorn And Robert Pear, "Concerns On Plan Show Clashing Goals," The New York Times, 7/22/09)

Sen. Reid Compared Those Who Oppose Government-Run Health Care To Those Who Supported Slavery. “Reid on Monday said Republicans were displaying the same mindset as those who defended slavery. ‘If you think you’ve heard these same excuses before, you’re right,’ Reid said. ‘When this country belatedly recognized the wrongs of slavery, there were those who dug in their heels and said, “Slow down, it’s too early, things aren’t bad enough”.’” (J. Taylor Rushing, "Reid Doubles Down On Slavery Analogy," The Hill's "Briefing Room" Blog, 12/8/09)

Speaker Pelosi And House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer Called People Who Oppose Health Care Experiment “Un-American.” “These disruptions are occurring because opponents are afraid not just of differing views — but of the facts themselves. Drowning out opposing views is simply un-American. Drowning out the facts is how we failed at this task for decades.” (Rep. Nancy Pelosi & Rep. Steny Hoyer, “'Un-American' Attacks Can't Derail Health Care Debate,” USA Today, 8/10/09)

DNC Ran Ad Smearing Americans Concerned About Health Care Bill As "Angry ... Rabid ... Extremists." "The Democratic National Committee will amplify its charge that Republicans are responsible for 'inciting angry mobs of a small number of rabid right wing extremists ... to disrupt' town hall meetings in a new 65 second Web video that will release Wednesday morning." (Mark Preston, "Democrats Accuse GOP Of Inciting Mobs," CNN's "Political Ticker" Blog, 8/5/09)

State Medical Associations Suggested Doctors Being “Bullied Into Submission.” “[Todd] Atwater's group circulated a much tougher letter among its members in early June, calling a public option the first step ‘down the road towards indentured servitude’ and hinting that physicians' groups have been bullied into submission by congressional Democrats and the Obama administration.” (Carrie Dann, “Physician Unrest Flares Over AMA Stand,” National Journal’s Congress Daily AM, 7/16/09)

BUT REPUBLICANS WANT TO TAP THE BRAKES AND GET HEALTH CARE REFORM DONE RIGHT

RNC Chairman Michael Steele Says Republicans Want Bi-Partisan Effort To Pass “Common-Sense, Incremental Reforms.” “Our Republican leaders in Congress have already proposed an action list of thoughtful, targeted reforms Congress could pass by Christmas. Empowering Americans to shop for the best health insurance deal anywhere in the country, not just their state, giving small businesses and individuals the same advantages big businesses have, ending expensive junk lawsuits and discrimination because of pre-existing conditions, these and other common-sense, incremental reforms have bipartisan support. They won't add to the national deficit. They will protect the doctor-patient relationship. And they will make health care more accessible and affordable.” (Michael Steele, "Las Vegas On The Potomac," Politico, 12/7/09)

Republican Leader Mitch McConnell Said Congress Should “Go Step By Step To Fix The Cost Problem.” “I'm not in favor of no health care reform. I think we ought to go step by step to fix the cost problem. Target junk lawsuits against doctors and hospitals, have interstate competition among health care companies, incentivize wellness programs that companies like Safeway have shown can bring down the cost. There are things we can do to improve what is already the finest health care in the world.” (Sen. Mitch McConnell, “Face The Nation,” 12/13/09)

Chicago Tribune: “GOP Proposals Contain Smart Ideas… And Ruling Democrats Need To Give Them A Full And Fair Hearing.” “Over the summer and fall, Republicans in the House and Senate have introduced six -- yes, six -- health care reform proposals. … [T]he GOP proposals contain smart ideas to increase choice and competition in the health insurance market -- a powerful Republican counterpoint to the Democrats' expensive plans. … These excellent ideas could expand coverage for the uninsured without cratering the federal budget or curbing the competition and innovation that drive the U.S. health care system. Republicans should keep pushing them -- and ruling Democrats need to give them a full and fair hearing.” (Editorial, “A GOP Health Plan,” The Chicago Tribune, 10/28/09)

Congressional Budget Office Said House Republican Bill Would Have Lowered Premiums By Up To 10 Percent. "CBO estimates that the combination of provisions included in the amendment would reduce average private health insurance premiums per enrollee in the United States relative to what they would be under current law ... In the small group market, which represents about 15 percent of total private premiums, the amendment would lower average insurance premiums in 2016 by an estimated 7 percent to 10 percent compared with amounts under current law." (Congressional Budget Office, Letter To Honorable John A. Boehner, 11/4/09)