The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that the House Democrat health care bill (H.R. 3200) would force seniors to pay an additional 20 percent more for their Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D).  Under H.R. 3200, seniors would pay 5 percent more in Part D premiums in 2011, increasing to 20 percent by 2019.    Background H.R. 3200 includes three significant changes… Read more

Today, the White House released a report on Medicare noting that “some” seniors would save money if the “doughnut hole” was closed. But "some" isn't "all," and it's not "most."  What the White House isn't telling seniors is that under the House Democrat health care bill, the vast majority of Medicare beneficiaries will pay higher Part B (doctor visits) and Part D (prescription drug… Read more

Responding today to inquiries from Ways and Means Ranking Member Dave Camp (R-MI), the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that the House Democrat health care bill (H.R. 3200) would force seniors to pay an additional 20 percent more for their Medicare prescription drug insurance (Part D). In their letter to Camp, CBO noted that “The net effect on drug spending would differ among… Read more

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the Administration’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) each today will release updated economic and budgetary projections showing the deficit growing at alarming rates. Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Dave Camp (R-MI) issued the following statement regarding the reports: “If the House Democrats’ unaffordable $1 trillion health care… Read more

Facing ever larger deficits as the result of massive federal spending and the failure of the President’s stimulus plan to meet its stated goals, the White House again admitted today that the President may increase taxes on middle class families starting next year.  While President Obama had previously called for extending Republican-enacted tax cuts for families earning less than… Read more

Despite the Administration’s claim that the “stimulus” is working, the Obama Misery Index (OMI) continued to rise in July.  The OMI measures the combined change in the public debt and unemployment since President Obama was inaugurated, which are now 40% higher than the levels on January 21, 2009.  The July rise in the OMI was driven by a continued sharp rise in the public debt, more… Read more

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) yesterday announced lower than expected average premiums in the Medicare prescription drug benefit (also known as Part D) next year.  Average monthly premiums will be $30 in 2010, just a $2 increase over this year.  This market-based benefit has always been under budget, costing seniors and the American taxpayers less than predicted.… Read more

In his health care town hall meeting yesterday, the President was asked by an audience member, “who can compete with the government?”  The President responded: “I think private insurers should be able to compete. They do it all the time. I mean, if you think about -- if you think about it, UPS and FedEx are doing just fine, right? No, they are. It's the Post Office that's always having… Read more

Ways and Means Ranking Member Dave Camp (R-MI) issued the following statement today in reaction to the July jobs report and a statement by Christina Romer (Chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisors) that the Stimulus bill passed by Congress was "well-conceived": “The Administration said their Stimulus program would save or create millions of jobs. The reality, however, is… Read more

In this column, U.S. Rep. Geoff Davis, R-Hebron, says Congress needs to slow down on health-care reform because current proposals are greatly flawed. Following is the full text of that column. On July 31st, the House of Representatives adjourned for the August district work period without voting on H.R. 3200, the so-called America’s “Affordable” Health Choices Act. President Barack Obama… Read more