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Obama Says One Thing, HELP Democrats’ Health Plan Does Another Bill Completely out of Step with President’s Goals on Costs, Coverage


Washington, D.C. – In his remarks today in Italy, President Obama put himself squarely at odds with the health care reform plan being pushed forward by Democrats on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee when it comes to cutting costs, controlling the deficit and letting Americans keep the care they have.

“President Obama again laid out clear goals for health care reform today, and theHELP Democrats’ bill doesn’t meet any of them,” said Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.),Ranking Member of the HELP Committee. “I agree with the President – we need healthcare reform that will reduce costs, let Americans keep the care they have and not driveup the deficit.”

According to statements by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to the HELPCommittee this week, the Democrats’ bill before the HELP Committee would drive uphealth care costs, increase the deficit by over $1 trillion and force millions of Americansto lose the health care they have now.

In a news conference today, the President said, “So I think it's important just torecognize we are closer to achieving serious health care reform that cuts costs,provides coverage to American families, allows them to keep their doctors and plansthat are working for them.”

The President continued, “My job is to make sure that I've set some clearparameters in terms of what I want to achieve. We have to bend the cost curve onhealth care . . . I've said that it's got to be budget neutral, it's got to be deficit neutral,and so whatever bill is produced has to be paid for . . . What cannot be denied is thatthe only way to get a handle on our medium-and long-term budget deficits is if we corraland contain health care costs.”

Enzi, the Senate’s only accountant, said, “The Kennedy bill bends the cost curve,but in the wrong direction. It would drive up premiums for millions of Americans andincrease the national deficit by $1 trillion.

“I look forward to voting for a bill that meets the President’s goals, but the HELPDemocrats’ plan isn’t that bill.”

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