HHS Secretary Acknowledges ObamaCare Budget Tricks
- Posted on March 4, 2011 at 10:28pm by
Meredith Jessup
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In her first appearance before the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee since Democrats’ health care overhaul law passed last year, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius responded to a line of questioning from Rep. John Shimkus, R-Ill., about whether the estimated $500 billion in Medicare cuts were to be used in sustaining the program or paying for the law.
The Medicare actuary shed light on this so-called “double counting” last year in an April 22 memo. “In practice,” he wrote, “the improved Part A financing cannot simultaneously be used to finance other Federal outlays (such as the coverage expansions under the PPACA) and to extend the trust fund, despite the appearance of this result from the respective accounting conventions.”
In other words, the money can only be used once. However, during her testimony Friday, Sebelius finally acknowledged that the Obama administration had misrepresented its accounting:
“There is an issue here on the budget because your own actuary has said you can’t double-count,” Shimkus said. “You can’t count — they’re attacking Medicare on the CR when their bill, your law, cut $500 billion from Medicare.”
He continued: “Then you’re also using the same $500 billion to what? Say your funding health care. Your own actuary says you can’t do both. … What’s the $500 billion in cuts for? Preserving Medicare or funding the health-care law?
“Both,” Sebelius replied.
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Comments (83)
AZ Roadrunner
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 1:44pmThis really isn’t news… I think it was Paul Ryan that pointed out the double counting. What surprises me is that Sebelius ADMITTED the TRUTH!! She had no quick lie at the ready…. I think she should be called before Congress as much as possible before she gets coached.
Report Post »jmgair
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 1:44pmLike Don King used to say, “Only in America” can politicians get away with this kind of deception and this current administration is the Don King of lies and deception. Sure they use their figures over and over again, double dipping is just one way to describe it
Report Post »republic2011
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 1:44pmThese people should be brought up on charges and put in jail. Washington is run by crooks… There, I said it. Impeach Obama and his whole administration. They are all crooks.
Report Post »Mil Mom
Posted on March 6, 2011 at 12:37amDon’t forget The Princess, and Prince, they couln’t “ave dunnit without ‘em!
Report Post »corchem
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 1:33pmBoth!
This will continue as long as we tolerate it! Democrats are communist or in other words Demmunist! Call these thugs for what they really are.
Report Post »ldpeters
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 1:14pmNow ain’t that a daisy???
The Obama administration fouled up its accounting!
SNAFU yet again….Deja screw up!…..Deja criminal activity….Deja impeachment! Or isn’t theft an impeachable offense?
IDIOT ALERT!!!!!
Report Post »glennisright.com
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 12:58pmThe only way they got it passed was tricks and ramrodding. It will be repealed because the truth behind what is in the bill is seeing the light of day.
http://www.glennisright.com
Report Post »Amazingoly
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 12:44pmThis evidence alone, should close the Obamacare doors. Disgusting, and Sebelius should follow Carol Browner out the door and step down.
Report Post »doglady
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 12:43pmKathleen Sevelius, Eric Holder, Barack Obama and all the rest are a disgrace to the country. They lie and expect us to believe them. It is past time for them all to go.
Report Post »Paleo Archer
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 5:52pmKitty Kat, as she is known out here, will retire at her comfortable ranch in Kansas and laugh all the way to oz.
Report Post »MacGirl
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 12:26pmSo, what will happen to Sebelius now? Will she face any consequences for misleading the public? Or, I guess I’m asking, *could* she?
Report Post »silcat
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 12:32pmDon’ worry. The DOJ is on it
Report Post »Mil Mom
Posted on March 6, 2011 at 12:33am@silcat
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 12:32pm
Don’ worry. The DOJ is on it
*****************
Report Post »Just as soon as someone proves it’s blacks who are the victims, and the writers of it all are white.
lillianrose
Posted on March 6, 2011 at 5:56amWatch the other hand.
Report Post »scoter
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 12:24pmWhat a women She wiil brun in HELL.
Report Post »freeweever
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 11:59amJust a thought. When I was younger or should i say my son was younger he asked for cheat code books for his game one christmas,I said what, cheat code books.My message is they have been telling kids for years ,the ends justify the means’ cheating is ok ,as long as your goal is reached.Meanwhile the kids never learn how to get thru problems on their own ,persistence will prevail.
Report Post »No we teach them its too hard here cheat ,you shouldn’t lose in sports, here you all win ,why am i saying this.Because when our kids ,these kids,get older they will believe this crap sebelius is saying and the progressive left knows it.They are creating“ socialist serfs” ,their own little useful idiots.
O and I know there is a profit motive for cheat code books but the allowance of the books without argument leaves the truth high and dry along with profits lol. This is her way,“sebelius”, of cheating but its ok they’re all doing it so just shut up and take your shot.Get ready folks this is just starting i promise its gonna get so much worse you have no idea.The progressives haven’t even got going this is their moonshot,this is their chance and if you think people of the likes of shilary clinton and diss mathews,the big obamanation and soros are gonna let their generation and time pass with out successfully making us socialist world society you are gona be shocked very soon lol .
rdk
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 11:18amDishonesty is no trick. Why is it not fraudulent?
Report Post »culp4cpa
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 10:58amAs a CPA I know the government has been double counting and using smoke and mirrors for decades. For example, for the past 30 years, the Federal government has been using the excess funds from Social Security to increase revenues and thus reduce the annual deficit. At the same time, they oftentimes don’t show the funds that they “borrowed” from Social Security as a liability. This is how Clinton managed to report surpluses for three years while the real national debt increased. If there was actually a surplus then the national debt would go down, not up!
Report Post »eatpork.theotherwhitemeat
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 10:52amWelcome to Illinois politics “nationalist style”
Report Post »david3755
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 10:42amIs it black or is it white? Both, comes the answer. She should be in Holder’s job or be secretary of state. None of these people can stand the light of truth. It is all just a show.
Report Post »LukeAppling
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 10:29amIt sounds as if most of us are fed up with the double-counting, the sleazy unions, the bankrupt states and federal government and yet we allow the nitwits of the students and the thugs of the union to disrupt the governmental process while we sit on the sides confusing ourselves with what is happening rather than stepping up and taking over the process from those who want a “revolution” .
Report Post »I say we should be the revolution and stop funding these kids and the unions and make them behave.
There are more of us than of them and we should take charge.
Mateytwo Barreett
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 10:00amSebelius. . At least shes a good fit for whats going on! Anybody seen good ol’ Bart Stup(id)ac lately. He seems awfully quiet.
Report Post »eatpork.theotherwhitemeat
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 9:50amI‘m sure with all that’s been exposed he’ll be a one trick pony. most of the nation doesn’t have stomach for Chicago style politics and lack of morals.
Report Post »HardcoreAlexJones
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 9:39amI was watching this as it happened, and I swear I couldn’t stop laughing at the look on her face when she said “both” and tossed her hands in the air, like “whatever”.
These people are treasonous, folks.
Report Post »Mil Mom
Posted on March 6, 2011 at 12:27amSo, why are they getting away with it? What’s the matter with impeachment while we still have some remnants of a country left, and a few of us who know what the Constitution says are still alive to teach it to our kids and/or grandkids?
Report Post »HardcoreAlexJones
Posted on March 6, 2011 at 10:03amIt‘s the neocons and brainwashed liberals who don’t want impeachment.
They don‘t want impeachment because they don’t want to be impeached themselves for the same thing, sabotaging our country.
Libertarians favor impeachment and prosecution.
Report Post »the point
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 9:33amSince he has taken office , his whole administration has been a “ trick”
Report Post »hopnmad
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 11:47amSillly Dems, tricks are for kids! (I couldn’t resist..)
You’re dealing with adults now..and we are not fooled by any of this..call us crazy, call us racists, or any other name you can think of..mark my words, the GOP WILL WIN IN 2012!
Report Post »Mil Mom
Posted on March 6, 2011 at 12:23amWas that a “double etendre”?
Report Post »psst
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 9:17amHell, double count the money?
Report Post »Ain’t no big deal, the Marxist party (aka dem party) have been double counting votes for many moons.
butler180
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 9:29amYou are so right, but please do not forget the dead who also have their votes counted
Report Post »Mil Mom
Posted on March 6, 2011 at 12:20amAnd those adorable little hanging sherds. Don’t forget them because they almost chose a President.
Report Post »hownowbrownmao
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 9:10amKathleen Sebelius is so hot , mmmmmmmmm Kathleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen SSSSebelius
Report Post »HardcoreAlexJones
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 9:36am……weird fetish, pal.
Report Post »Shane the Golden
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 9:02amThey can do anything they wish. They are in power and you will live by their wishes and desires, how dare you question motives or tactics. We are the Progressive Mental Giants, you are not….
Report Post »jhaydeng
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 7:23pmSad but true! O.k.I give up! I‘ll buy skin tight jeans and wear thick framed 50’s style glasses while smoking a clove cigarette outside a Starbucks! What a surreal situation, the life of a Bohemian! No sense of direction. No sense of responsibility and no common sense of life in general! Ah the brainless nuance of Liberal Mecca!!!! Where do I sign!!
Report Post »jhaydeng
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 9:00amThis is what Cuomo and Brown are doing. They are acting like they are making drastic cuts, but they are actually just trying to make room for the Health Care Bill. It’s very obvious!!! When you open your eyes and pay attention every calculated move is crystal clear!! I thank Glenn Beck personally for opening my blurred vision!
Report Post »newspapertaxis
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 8:44amDoug Henning would be amazed at the sleight of hand used by this administration.
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 9:38amRemember, we had to vote for the bill to find out what’s in it.
Report Post »teachermitch32
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 12:12pmBoss,
You’re a piece of work! It was pretty clear to me back in April when the figures and reports first came out. She is just now admitting to it. That’s all. No out of context crap.
Report Post »_waTson_
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 12:14pmShe can count and she doesn’t hold up well underfire ..
She obviously did not get the memo “to wear Red and Black and no matter what you say or do, BLAME BUSH”.
Sheesh, how do we get these Morons fired? Or have we lost hat right too?
Report Post »GETLIFE
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 12:38pmVote, Watson, Vote. Look at Wisconsin–what a big noise a small state can make. What power.
Report Post »GETLIFE
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 12:58pmHowever these guys don’t seem to be worried about 2012. Deciding which laws they want to uphold or not. And now 2+2=8. It’s kind of ominous.
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 2:11pmWe all know lies and deceit were used to get this passed. We watched it happen right in front of our eyes. What is surprising is the number of Americans who are in amazed awe stricken hypnotized compliance and voted for this snake oil.
It’s hard to believe we have that many idiots in America.
Report Post »GODSAMERICA
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 5:55pm@teachermitch32
Report Post »I’m not sure if boss j is actually means what he is saying or he is ridiculing them.
Evileye
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 7:28pmI think they must be call up the Federal lock up
Report Post »and getting advice from Bernie Madoff
ManThong
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 10:15pmIt won’t be long and all the rigged numbers and slick talking in the world will not save them (or us) from the disaster that will occur when the deception is reconciled to cold hard reality.
Report Post »DisillusionedDaily
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 10:22pmWith all the financial trickery, double dealing, political payoffs and lying this administration has had exposed one has to wonder why there has been no move to impeach Obama and unseat his czars and cabinet.
“What’s up, Doc?”
Report Post »Bugs Bunny
OneFunR6
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 10:32pm“Vote, Watson, Vote. Look at Wisconsin–what a big noise a small state can make. What power.”
GETLIFE, really??
My best bet is……….
Gas will be $&-$10 a gallon, the Fed WILL go bankrupt, and the Banks will CLOSE………..
FOOD WILL be $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ and so WILL GAS.
no Federal Elections will be held in 2012……..
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 11:30pmOver the past two years where did trillions of dollars disapear???
Report Post »Boss J
Posted on March 6, 2011 at 12:01amYeah, totally sarcastic. I just figured I would head off the trolls at the pass.
Report Post »Mil Mom
Posted on March 6, 2011 at 12:15am@RULER4YOU
It’s hard to believe we have that many idiots in America.
*************
Report Post »Come On Now, don’t you realize there are still a lot of graveyards in America!
Wartface
Posted on March 6, 2011 at 1:40amShe lied and Obummer… Lied like a rug!
Obama’s promise that you can keep your current plan…
President Obama’s promise that Americans could keep their current plan has already been breached. Americans’ ability to continue with their existing plans has been limited first by the PPACA, which makes certain provisions of the new law applicable even to grandfathered plans, and more broadly by the Administration’s ambiguous and restrictive regulation on what changes forfeit grandfather status. The Administration itself estimates that 49 percent to 80 percent of small employer plans; 34 percent to 64 percent of large employer plans; and 40 percent to 67 percent of individual insurance coverage will not be grandfathered by the end of 2013.[25] This estimate is based on changes that the regulation explicitly disqualifies. It does not take into account changes that the regulation does not deal with and that may be found disqualifying, perhaps by “administrative guidance.”
So, for employers and employees, Obamacare’s operative principle is simple: You can keep your health plan…maybe, well, not really, to some extent, in certain circumstances, for awhile.
Report Post »