A Town Hall Meeting and Representative Barton's Health Care Review

Tonight was one of our congressman's (Joe Barton) town hall meetings.

He is very concerned about the new health care provisions, and about the economy.

A few thoughts from Mr. Barton's notes on the new health care (and if I have gotten them wrong, I'm very sorry, Mr. Barton):

1. The questionable means used to pass the bill--ie, reconciliation, which is specifically for budget issues and NOT for legislative type bills.

2. The huge new burden of taxes for we, the people:

--taxes paid by employers for each employee raised 166%--and now also includes part time workers.

--New 3.8% tax on capital venture activities

--New taxes on health care benefits (something President Obama promised NOT to do)

--New taxes on medical devices and on medications

3. Health care premiums are predicted to rise 10%-13% (I would say this is a very conservative estimate)

4. Insurance mandates---everyone will be forced to buy insurance (except, I guess, those millions of people who still somehow won't be covered--something I just don't understand!)

5. Government growth--The federal government will spend billions on new bureaucracy and on IRS agents (N.B.--the IRS will now have access to your medical records, I believe)

6. Over half-a-trillion dollar cut to Medicare over and above those in the Senate health care bill, and cuts Medicare Advantage for many, many seniors.

Plus who knows what else? After all, we had to pass the bill to know what was in it!

And truly, the reconciliation bill was pushed through (as usual!!) with only a few hours for everyone to read it...typical modus operandi.