Samuelson: “Atrocious” Bill Is “Bad Bargain” For Americans

Conn Carroll / December 21, 2009

Washington Post contributing editor Robert Samuelson has a must read op-ed on Obamacare today. Highlights below including links to the CMS and CBO reports he cites:

Even if Congress passes legislation — a good bet — the finished product will fall far short of Obama’s extravagant promises. It will not cover everyone. It will not control costs. It will worsen the budget outlook. It will lead to higher taxes. It will disrupt how, or whether, companies provide insurance for their workers.
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The various health-care proposals represent atrocious legislation. To be sure, they would provide insurance to 30 million or more Americans by 2019. People would enjoy more security. But even these gains must be qualified. Some of the newly insured will get healthier, but how many and by how much is unclear. The uninsured now receive 50 to 70 percent as much care as the insured. The administration argues that today’s system has massive waste. If so, greater participation in the waste by the newly insured may not make them much better off. (more…)