Fact checking Obama's reconciliation health care speech

Even though 73 percent of Americans oppose ObamaCare, the president wants to ram through his plan to transform wreck one-sixth of our economy. This afternoon Barack Obama said he was going direct the Senate to utilize reconciliation to turn us into another failed European state.

Meanwhile, the Senate Republican Communication Center fact-checked Obama's most recent, but no doubt last, health care speech.

Part one:

President vs. President: "If You Like Your Plan, You Can Keep Your Plan"

The President Himself Previously Admitted That “Some Of The Provisions” In The Senate Bill "Violated That Pledge"
PRESIDENT OBAMA: "If You Like Your Plan, You Can Keep Your Plan. If You Like Your Doctor, You Can Keep Your Doctor." (President Obama, Prepared Remarks, 3/3/10)

PRESIDENT OBAMA: “Some Of The Provisions” In The Democratic Health Bill “Violated That Pledge.” "We said from the start, that it was going to be important for us to be consistent, in saying to people if you can have your – if you want to keep the insurance you’ve got, you can keep it. That you're not going to have anybody getting in between you and your doctor in your decision making. And I think that some of the provisions that got snuck in might have violated that pledge." ("Obama's Planned Medicare Cuts Distress Some Democrats," Bloomberg, 12/3/09)

PRESIDENT OBAMA: "Eight To Nine Million People … Might Have To Change Their Coverage." "Well, let me, since you asked me a question, let me respond. The eight to nine million people that you refer to that might have to change their coverage, keep in mind, out of the 300 million Americans that we're talking about.” (President Obama, Health Care Summit, 2/25/10)

Part two:

FACT CHECK: DEFICIT REDUCTION

Contrary To The President's Assertion, CBO Says Long Term Deficit Projections “Would Not Be Meaningful Because The Uncertainties Involved Are Simply Too Great"

PRESIDENT OBAMA: "Our Cost-Cutting Measures Mirror Most Of The Proposals In The Current Senate Bill, Which Reduces Most People’s Premiums And Brings Down Our Deficit By Up To $1 Trillion Over The Next Two Decades." (President Obama, Prepared Remarks, 3/3/10)

CBO: "A Detailed Year-By-Year Projection For Years Beyond 2019, Like Those That CBO Prepares For The 10-Year Budget Window, Would Not Be Meaningful Because The Uncertainties Involved Are Simply Too Great." (CBO Director Doug Elmendorf, Letter To Sen. Harry Reid, 12/19/09, P. 15)

Part three:

FACT CHECK: "Bring Down Costs"

The President's Own Actuary Says Health Expenditures "Would Increase"

PRESIDENT OBAMA: "Finally, My Proposal Would Bring Down The Cost Of Health Care For … The Federal Government." (President Obama, Prepared Remarks, 3/3/10)

CMS On Senate Bill: "This Bill Would Increase [Health Expenditures] By An Estimated Total Of $222 Billion"

CMS: "…We Estimate That Overall National Health Expenditures Under This Bill Would Increase By An Estimated Total Of $222 Billion (0.6 Percent) During Calendar Years 2010-2019…" ("Estimated Financial Effects Of The 'Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act,' As Passed By The Senate On December 24, 2009," Centers For Medicare & Medicaid Services, P.4, 1/8/10)
…

"Current Law Baseline, Total National Health Expenditures (NHE)… Total, CY 2010-2019… $35,253.3 [Billion Dollars].” ("Estimated Financial Effects Of The 'Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act,' As Passed By The Senate On December 24, 2009," Centers For Medicare & Medicaid Services, P.36, 1/8/10)       "Proposed-PPACA, Total National Health Expenditures (NHE)… Total, CY 2010-2019… $35,475.6 [Billion Dollars]." ("Estimated Financial Effects Of The 'Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act,' As Passed By The Senate On December 24, 2009," Centers For Medicare & Medicaid Services, P.36, 1/8/10)

"Impact Of PPACA, Total National Health Expenditures (NHE)… Total, CY 2010-2019… $222.3 [Billion Dollars]." ("Estimated Financial Effects Of The "Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act," As Passed By The Senate On December 24, 2009,” Centers For Medicare & Medicaid Services, P.37, 1/8/10)

CBO On Senate Bill: BILL STILL INCREASES COSTS

CBO: "Under The Legislation, Federal Outlays For Health Care Would Increase During The 2010–2019 Period, As Would The Federal Budgetary Commitment To Health Care. The net increase in that commitment would be about $200 billion over that 10-year period, driven primarily by the gross cost of the coverage expansions (including increases in both outlays and tax credits)." (CBO Director Doug Elmendorf, Letter To Sen. Harry Reid, 12/19/09, P. 18)

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