InfoAnda - Democrats see GOP hypocrisy in health care debate

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Russian Orthodox Church enthrones new patriarch | 2 February 2009
YEAR-END SPECIAL: Thai ruling coalition called 'Emergency Exit Govt' | 29 December 2010
Canadian researchers uncover China-based online spy network | 7 April 2010

Sarkozy gains ground on Socialist rival - poll | | 8 January 2012

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Democrats see GOP hypocrisy in health care debate

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Africa Europe Latin America Middle East North America Democrats see GOP hypocrisy in health care debate By CHARLES BABINGTON,Associated Press Writer - Saturday, December 26 Send IM Story Print WASHINGTON – Republican senators attacking the cost of a Democratic health care bill showed far different concerns six years ago, when they approved a major Medicare expansion that has added tens of billions of dollars to federal deficits. The inconsistency _ or hypocrisy, as some call it _ has irked Democrats, who claim that their plan will pay for itself with higher taxes and spending cuts and cite the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office for support. By contrast, when Republicans controlled the House, Senate and White House in 2003, they overcame Democratic opposition to add a deficit-financed prescription drug benefit to Medicare. The program will cost a half-trillion dollars over 10 years, or more by some estimates. With no new taxes or spending offsets accompanying the Medicare drug program, the cost has been added to the federal debt. All current GOP senators, including the 24 who voted for the 2003 Medicare expansion, oppose the health care bill that's backed by President Barack Obama and most congressional Democrats. Some Republicans say they don't believe the CBO's projections that the health care overhaul will pay for itself. As for their newfound worries about big government health expansions, they essentially say: That was then, this is now. Six years ago, "it was standard practice not to pay for things," said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah. "We were concerned about it, because it certainly added to the deficit, no question." His 2003 vote has been vindicated, Hatch said, because the prescription drug benefit "has done a lot of good." Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, said those who see hypocrisy "can legitimately raise that issue." But he defended his positions in 2003 and now, saying the economy is in worse shape and Americans are more anxious. Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, said simply: "Dredging up history is not the way to move forward." She noted that she fought unsuccessfully to offset some of President George W. Bush's deep tax cuts at the time. But for now, she said, "it's a question of what's in this package," which the Senate passed Thursday in a party-line vote. The Senate bill still must be reconciled with a House version. The political situation is different now, Snowe said, because "we're in a tough climate and people are angry and frustrated." Some conservatives have no patience for such explanations. "As far as I am concerned, any Republican who voted for the Medicare drug benefit has no right to criticize anything the Democrats have done in terms of adding to the national debt," said Bruce Bartlett, an official in the administrations of Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. He made his comments in a Forbes article titled "Republican Deficit Hypocrisy." Bartlett said the 2003 Medicare expansion was "a pure giveaway" that cost more than this year's Senate or House health bills will cost. More important, he said, "the drug benefit had no dedicated financing, no offsets and no revenue-raisers. One hundred percent of the cost simply added to the federal budget deficit." The pending health care bills in Congress, he noted, are projected to add nothing to the deficit over 10 years. Other lawmakers who voted for the 2003 Medicare expansion include the Senate's top three Republican leaders, all sharp critics of the Obama-backed health care plans: Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Jon Kyl of Arizona and Lamar Alexander of Tennessee. Eleven Democratic senators voted with them back then. The 2003 vote in the House was even more divisive. It resulted in a nearly three-hour roll call in which GOP leaders put extraordinary pressure on colleagues to back the prescription drug addition to Medicare. In the end, 204 Republicans and 16 Democrats voted for the bill. Democrats certainly have indulged in deficit spending over the years. They say they have been more responsible over the last two decades, however. Bill Clinton's administration was largely constrained by a pay-as-you-go law, requiring most tax cuts or program expansions to be offset elsewhere with tax increases and/or spending cuts. Clinton ended his presidency with a budget surplus. But it soon was wiped out by a sagging economy, the Iraq war, GOP tax cuts and the lapsing of the pay-as-you-go restrictions. Obama and many Democrats in Congress have vowed to restore those restrictions. But they waived them this year for programs, including heavy stimulus spending meant to pull the economy from the severe recession of 2008-09. The 2010 deficit is expected to reach $1.5 trillion, and the accumulated federal debt now exceeds $12 trillion. When the Republican-led Congress passed the Medicare expansion in 2003, the deficit was $374 billion, and was projected to hit $525 billion the following year, in part because of the new prescription drug benefit for seniors. Some GOP lawmakers cite these numbers in arguing that their current worries about heavy government spending are legitimate, even if they voted for the deficit-financed Medicare bill in 2003. But Judy Feder, an analyst with the Democratic-leaning Center for American Progress, said these Republicans had their chance and blew it. In the second Bush administration, she said, "there was a total elimination of any kind of pay-for responsibility." Those responsible should now show some humility, she said. Recommend Send IM Story Print Related Articles Next for NJ father after legal victory: parenting AP - 1 hour 48 minutes ago Quiet is watchword for Obama's holiday in Hawaii AP - 2 hours 1 minute ago Journalist killed in Mexico, 12th case in 2009 AP - 2 hours 22 minutes ago One dead, nine missing after Greek ship fire Reuters - 2 hours 30 minutes ago 2 more Irish bishops quit over Dublin abuse report AP - 2 hours 32 minutes ago News Search Top Stories Obama to Hawaii for holidays, challenges await him in 2010 Wall Street prepares to coast to end of 2009 Ukraine facing 'serious problems' paying for gas: Gazprom British royals celebrate Christmas Saab to shut as GM won't consider Spyker bid: report More Top Stories » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed Most Recommended British priest defends urging people to shoplift Watchmaker 'stands with Tiger' amid new cheating reports Saab to shut as GM won't consider Spyker bid: report Deadly storm snarls holiday travel in central US Bethlehem fetes Christmas in the shadow of a wall More Most Viewed » Tiger's wife Elin seeking divorce: reports Century-old butter found in Scott's Antarctic hut Virgin unveils spaceship to offer space tourism Brazilian confesses to sticking needles into two-year-old Tiger Woods' girlfriend apologizes in TV interview More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Asia Entertainment Photos Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community | Intellectual Property Rights Policy | Help

Other News on Saturday, 26 December 2009
Iran willing to swap nuclear material in Turkey
Ukraine facing 'serious problems' paying for gas: Gazprom
One dead, nine missing after Greek ship fire |
Queen Elizabeth II praises the Commonwealth
18 killed in Iraq violence despite tight security
British royals celebrate Christmas
Bin Laden's daughter free to leave Tehran: Iran FM
Eurostar to run normal service on Dec 26
Eurotunnel says not responsible for Eurostar chaos |
Two more Irish bishops to resign over child abuse |
Top Russian doctor accuses brewers of spiking beer |
Ukraine has problems paying for gas: Gazprom |
Should Afghanistan's next election be delayed?
Family plea after Taliban video of captive soldier
Family of captured US soldier pleads for release
China cracks down on online games: report
China dissident jailed for 11 years for subversion
Quiet is watchword for Obama's holiday in Hawaii
China jails dissident for 11 years for subversion
Japan unveils record budget to boost economy
Text of family's plea for US soldier release
Family of captured US soldier pleads for release
Thailand rejects Cambodian allegation of coup plot
AP NewsAlert
Chinese dissident gets 11 years for subversion
Huge US storm puts the freeze on Christmas
Police say 9 die in bridge collapse in west India
Obamas salute US soldiers in Christmas message
Thousands volunteer to search for missing Md. girl
Democrats see GOP hypocrisy in health care debate
Fuel spill at same Alaska reef as Exxon Valdez
Feds repay Va. for Inauguration Day bus service
Nativity Scene Baby Jesus Stolen, But Returned With Gifts
Ex-Boyfriend Throws Molotov Cocktail Into Wrong House
Vatican Guards Arrest Woman For Approaching Pope Before Midnight Mass Service
Scalpers Legally Jack Up Ticket Prices For Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games
Website Allows Children To Track Santa
Indiana Boy Tries To Give Away Family's Cash On School Bus
Woman Pleads For Return Of 300-Pound Hippo
California Toddler Ingests Meth Rushed To Hospital
Pit Bulls Shot After Killing Livestock
FAA Taps Aerospace Technology Firm As New UFO Reporting Center
Israel kills six Palestinians in West Bank, Gaza
Eurostar hits back over 'safety' lapse claims
Asia marks tsunami's fifth anniversary with prayers |
UK paper names slain protester 'person of the year'
Ship fire kills nine off Venezuela: state media |
Eurostar denies safety lapses over train breakdowns
Six Palestinians dead in violence with Israel |
Obama to Hawaii for holidays, challenges await him in 2010
Riot on Christmas rocks Suriname border town |
Wall Street prepares to coast to end of 2009
China jails dissident Liu Xiaobo for 11 years |
Eurotunnel says not responsible for Eurostar chaos |
Catholic Church seeks talks with Colombia rebels |
Ecuador TV station returns to air after suspension |
AP sources: Al-Qaida link in failed plane attack
Al-Qaeda-linked Nigerian tries to blow up US airliner
A look at some recent attacks on transportation
NY man can't recover Madoff millions from ex-wife
Prayers and silence mark 2004 tsunami anniversary
U.S. says al Qaeda linked Nigerian tries to blow up plane
Mile-long sheen spreads near disabled tugboat
Divers search for 24 missing from Philippine ferry
Transatlantic Flight Narrowly Escapes Terror Attack, Nigerian Arrested
Obama, HUD Announce $1.4 Billion For Homeless Assistance Programs
US airplane incident was attempted terror attack: US media
US Christian activist enters North Korea: colleagues
U.S. Military Drops Pregnancy Ban
Pope Brings Message Of Peace For Iraq, Middle East On Christmas
Boston newspaper cane goes to oldest town resident
Nativity Scene Baby Jesus Stolen, But Returned With Gifts
Asia remembers day ocean unleashed its fury
Ex-Boyfriend Throws Molotov Cocktail Into Wrong House
Obama monitoring Delta flight firecracker situation
Vietnam sentences 5 Chinese to death in drug case
South Carolina Lt. Gov. Tied In Poll; Gets Endorsement From Huckabee
School Nurses Save Boy Suffering Cardiac Arrest
Obamas Salute Military Personnel In Christmas Message
China treating severe swine flu with blood plasma
Tennessee Woman Sentenced To 15 Years For Sex Trafficking
10 people killed, 2 injured in Malaysian bus crash
Divers to search Philippine wreck to find missing
U.S. rights activist crosses into North Korea
NKorea weapons smugglers left trail around world
Actor Sheen arrested for alleged attack on wife
China's Geely to leave Volvo intact: state media
Actor Sheen arrested for alleged attack on wife
Charlie Sheen jailed on domestic violence charges
Charlie Sheen jailed on domestic violence charges |
Winemaker in rebel Abkhazia hopes to conquer world markets
'What's in my tabbouleh?', Lebanese ask
Scribe writes Torah atop emblematic Masada fortress
Japan weather agency to end cherry blossom forecasts
Oscar Winner Rahman Charging $100 At "Free" Australian Concert
Tehran police, protesters clash during Shiite ritual
Croatia to elect president amid economic crisis
U.S. says al Qaeda-linked man tries to blow up plane |
Saudi rid of Yemeni infiltrators, King says
Barmy Brits brave winter chill for Christmas dip
Islamists claim killing of Russian priest
Clashes erupt in Iran on Shi'ite holy day |
Israeli troops kill 6 in West Bank, Gaza
Oscar Winner Rahman Charging $100 At "Free" Australian Concert
Clashes erupt in Iran on Shi'ite holy day
Gene Simmons Facing Assault Lawsuit
US soldier killed in Afghanistan bomb attack: NATO
Iraqi and Iranian forces stand off in oil well row |
Nicolas Cage Hit With Another Multi-Million Dollar Lawsuit
Afghans to hold parliament vote by late May: official |
Judge Rejects TRO Against KISS Rocker Gene Simmons
Europe tightens security after foiled U.S. attack |
Domestic Violence Mentioned In Courtney Love-Frances Bean Cobain Custody Drama
France berates China over sentencing of dissident |
Vanessa Hudgens Files Suit Against Website Over Nude Photos
Jade Goody's Widower Jack Tweed Pleads Not Guilty To Raping A Teenager
Amy Winehouse Charged With Assault Over Theater Attack
In election season, Iraq steps up Ashura security |
Justin Timberlake Named Top Philanthropist Of 2009
Vatican mulls options over woman who lunged at pope |
Judge Extends Britney Spears' Conservatorship
The nation's weather
Earthquake jolts Indonesia on tsunami anniversary
Strong quake hits off Indonesian island
Flint study asks: How does well-kept grass matter?
Magma building up in Philippines' Mayon volcano
Forecasters warn of continued blizzards in Plains
Failed Xmas attack raises new security concerns
India bridge collapse: 45 presumed dead
Tsunami's devastation: Numbers tell the tale
Focus on sex offender in Maryland girl's death
Bridge collapse kills 40 in western India
NATO: Taliban commander dies in mosque shootout
China bloggers fined for defamation: report
NATO: US service member killed in Afghanistan
Toyota to boost global output: reports
Pakistani c.bank buys 110.15 bln rupees of govt paper
Actor Charlie Sheen arrested in Colorado
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01