Spinning ObamaCare's Empty Promises

Health care law's deficit-fighting powers prove imaginary

(The Washington Times) - Once upon a time, the president of the United States promised his new government-run health care entitlement would bring wonderful new benefits to the people without costing a penny. In fact, it would save money, claimed President Obama and congressional Democrats. "This represents the biggest deficit-reduction plan since the 1990s," Mr. Obama said of his government health care power grab a month after he signed it into law.

Yet Obamacare's deficit numbers have kept the green eyeshades at the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) up at night. "The rising costs of health care will put tremendous pressure on the federal budget during the next few decades and beyond," said CBO Director Douglas W. Elmendorf in May. "In CBO's judgment, the health legislation enacted earlier this year does not substantially diminish that pressure." The agency's latest projections suggest that the net increase in the deficit attributable to the federal health care law will exceed a quarter-trillion dollars over the next decade.