Promise-keepers

The quantity and degree of tall tales being told to push government-managed health care on a skeptical public is reaching some pretty epic levels. Recall the President’s campaign pitch that under his health-care proposal Americans would “be able to get the same kind of coverage that members of Congress give themselves.”

Oh, really? Members of Congress are so excited regarding their prospects to participate in Obama-care they have exempted themselves (and the unions) from all the fun.

This legislation -- the Affordable Health Choices Act that's being drafted by Sen. Edward Kennedy's staff and the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee -- will push Americans into stingy insurance plans with tight, HMO-style controls. It specifically exempts members of Congress (along with federal employees; the exemptions are in section 3116).

The Kennedy bill also drives providers towards the HMO-style insurance of the 90s that was very unpopular. Through the use of “incentives”, the payment structure would be based upon how many times your doctor didn’t refer you to a specialist or order more testing for your ailment. That sounds like a fantastic way to reduce the cost of your health care, if you don’t mind your doctor balking on passing you along to a different doctor or ordering more testing if the situation may warrant it.... Honestly, if your GP finds "something" and he's not quite sure what it is then... hell, roll the bones, quit whining and live a little, chump - because you only go around once and taking one for team in order to better control health care costs are what it's all about.

Recall that the very people who support universal health care were basically promising less service. This is one of the mechanisms for how they will keep that promise.

Would members of Congress who are supporting Obama-care care to take the “public-option pledge” that the President himself turned down? We think you know the answer to that question.