Republican Sen. Richard Burr, long a critic of Democratic efforts to craft a health care overhaul, says he can not support the new Senate proposal.
Burr said the bill "is yet another attempt by Washington Democrats to take over our nation's health care system," Rob Christensen reports. He said it would cut Medicare benefits for seniors, increase taxes on small businesses, increase federal spending, and put "government bureaucrats between patients and their doctors."
He said the real cost of the bill over 10 years would be $2.5 trillion.
"This is not the kind of health reform I can support," Burr said said in statement. "It is certainly not the kind of health reform that the American people want. I oppose the bill, and I will work to see it does not become law. I agree we need health care reform, but this bill is not the answer."
UPDATE: Dollar amount corrected.
Comments
Re: Burr says 'no' to health care bill
November 20, 2009 - 7:36pm — dahedgehogkudzuking, you got a source for that?
Re: Burr says 'no' to health care bill
November 20, 2009 - 3:14pm — kudzukingDahedgehog,
Burr's numbers actually don't differ from CBO. Burr's numbers just highlight the accounting gimmicks the Democrats used.
The ten-year budget window the Democrats are using starts in 2010. But the bill actually doesn't go into effect until 2014. So the Democrats' score "saves" money by starting the budget clock four years before the bill goes into effect. In other words, their then-year score only includes six years of spending. The only things that start immediately under the Senate Democrats' bill are the Medicare cuts and some of the tax increases.
Burr starts the clock when the bill is actually up and running - or fully implemented.
Re: Burr says 'no' to health care bill
November 20, 2009 - 2:24pm — rapidtransitI try to avoid buying things of which I do not know the cost. Only our Federal Government would buy something lock, stock and barrel without having any idea of the true cost. Looks like the recent housing crisis and all the foreclosures would have taught our leaders something about buying something that you cannot pay. I never have understood the rush nor why some time could be spent on at least reading the bill. Car salesmen often tell me to buy the car today because there will soon be a shortage. Never has happened yet. This reminds me of doing something even if it is wrong. I think we will all regret the haste.
Re: Burr says 'no' to health care bill
November 20, 2009 - 2:01pm — dahedgehog$2.5 billion...$2.5 trillion....I still have no clue what the heck he's talking about. Any help here?
Re: Burr says 'no' to health care bill
November 20, 2009 - 10:55am — dahedgehogHe said the real cost of the bill over 10 years would be $2.5 billion.
A real reporter would have asked Burr what the source of these numbers is. Why do Burr's numbers differ so drastically from the CBO's?
Re: Burr says 'no' to health care bill
November 20, 2009 - 8:52am — southernrock"Those estimates are subject to substantial uncertainty."
This from the letter from the Congressional Budget Office to Senator Reid.
The letter goes on to state...
By 2019, CBO and JCT estimate, the number of nonelderly people who are uninsured would be reduced by about 31 million, leaving about 24 million nonelderly residents uninsured (about one-third of whom would be unauthorized immigrants).
President Obama claimed that there was 45 millions uninsured during his State of the Union Address...
So what the Democrats have proposed is not even a solution - it is more or less a band aid.
By the way - where is tort reform as the President promised?
Why are there tax increases on anyone that jointly files with an income of $250,000?
Just a few questions, because I was promised during the campaign that taxes would be raised on 95% of Americans.
Joint returns with more than $250,000 adjusted gross income and single returns with more than $125,000 adjusted gross income together are estimated to make up 3.1 percent of households next year. That group is projected to earn 27 percent of all personal income and pay 47.9 percent of all personal federal income taxes in 2009, according to the TPC's calculations.
To all that agree with the legislation - have you actually read all 2,100+ pages.
If you remember, the Democrats pushed the "Stimulus Package" down our throats in the same manner and we now see all the stimulating that has done...
Playing follow the leaders is for little kids - Thanks for taking a stand Senator Burr!
Re: Burr says 'no' to health care bill
November 20, 2009 - 5:38am — Prn13NormGive 'em hell Burr. Make the Liberal bastards fight for every inch they get. We'll bring the calvary in 2010
Re: Burr says 'no' to health care bill
November 20, 2009 - 5:12am — SouthsideJohnnyAnd this is exactly why North Carolina should get rid of him. We need a senator who will kowtow to Obama's every whim. No need for there to be any questions asked about health care reform. The USA has plenty of money and health care reform is pocket change. It is hard to understand why we tolerate people who just will not go along! Questioning a minor issue like health care is stupid. Who better than the government to run health care? Burr should apologize!
RE: Unlike his own plan...
November 19, 2009 - 8:30pm — StatesRightsCompared to Reid, Pelosi, Franks, Dobbs, Rankin, etc. Burr is a saint (politically speaking). I don't recall him saying it's his plan or nothing, either--unlike the Democrats, who refuse to discuss ANYTHING offered by the Republicans, unless of course they're courting a vote (like Olympia Snowe). Talk about the Party of No!
I'm just glad Burr is trying to slow the tide and force rational discussion. Speaking of which--time for me to contact Hagan, AGAIN...
Unlike his own plan
November 19, 2009 - 6:57pm — James_Protzmanwhich would do nothing to cover those in need, jack up rate for people already covered, and crank up insurer profit margins. What a guy.
It's hard to know how Christensen can listen to all these burrs* without needing a drink to ease the pain.
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* burrs - n., pl., burz; any one of a number of self-serving policy positions taken by the senior Senator from North Carolina. See also Bank Run Burr, Lawnmower Man, and Contractor Rape