Johanns: Nebraskans Will Not Approve

Press Release

Senator Mike Johanns issued the following statement as further comment on Senator Reid's final 400-page amendment to the health care reform bill, which has reportedly won the support of 60 senators, but no Republicans.

"I think Nebraskans will find it heartbreaking that carve-outs for our state and insurance companies potentially put this terrible bill across the finish line," Johanns said. "The manager's amendment does nothing to change the core of the bill, but apparently wins over the magic number of senators needed. The Medicare cuts will be devastating to Nebraskans and all Americans who will lose access to care. The tax increases on individuals and small businesses are job-killers that will drag down our economy. I am saddened that debate was allowed to proceed before this bill was fixed, but I hope Nebraskans and all Americans who oppose this bill will continue to make their voices heard."

Johanns previously commented specifically on the abortion provision.

Notable Provisions in the Reid "Compromise":
* Still increases taxes, fees and penalties on American citizens by a half a trillion dollars. Five Democrats who opposed these tax increases on Tuesday, apparently support them now in the Reid compromise. (Recorded Vote #376)
* Actually INCREASES taxes $30 billion more than the original Reid legislation that has been debated for over two weeks. (initial Joint Committee on Taxation Score = $371.9 billion in tax increases; now = $397.7 billion in tax increases)
* Still imposes almost a half a trillion dollars in Medicare cuts.
o Cuts approximately $150 billion from hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, and home health providers.
o Cuts Medicare Advantage insurance coverage by $118.1 billion. Approximately 35,000 Nebraskans have Medicare Advantage plans.
* Still imposes a punishing Medicaid unfunded mandate on state taxpayers in all but one state (an earmark for Nebraska exempts our state).
* Still includes an accounting gimmick that even the Democrat Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee called a Ponzi scheme. Eleven Democrats and one Independent voted to remove this program from the bill, yet it remains in the Reid compromise that all Democrats appear to now support. (Recorded Vote #360)
* Still increases the size and reach of the Federal government. The Congressional Budget Office projects the Internal Revenue Service, the Health and Human Services Department, and the Office of Personnel Management will need to increase their budgets by $10 billion to $20 billion just to administer these new entitlements. (page 12 of the CBO report).

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