Baron Hill phones it in

Coverage of Baron's massive conference call on Tuesday-- from Lesley Stedman Weidenbener in the C-J...

U.S. Rep. Baron Hill, D-9th District, used a telephone call with more than 5,100 members of AARP on Monday to try to sell the virtues of the controversial House health care bill and dispel what he called myths about how it would affect Americans.

Hill answered questions for nearly an hour, repeatedly assuring those who were listening that the legislation would not cut Medicare benefits, would not ration health services and would not force euthanasia on sick, older patients. He said the bill would mandate coverage for all Americans, eliminate gaps in prescription drug coverage for seniors, reduce costs by discouraging unnecessary tests and procedures, prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions, and allow workers to take their coverage with them to new jobs....

No problem with accuracy so far-- except that it would be quite expensive to increase coverage without these.

“None of this is true,” he said. “Don't believe the myths. Believe the things in this bill that are good.”...

How about we believe the truth-- the good and the bad?

Discouraged by disruptive crowds at town hall meetings held by other members of Congress, Hill has so far been talking with constituents largely in small groups or in meetings announced the day they are held....

I'm not sure those are his motives, but they are his stated motives.

Hill said the legislation would require the casino to maintain her insurance. All companies with annual payrolls of $500,000 or more would be mandated to offer coverage....

I could be wrong on this, but I think the bill mandates coverage, but does not mandate that they keep the same coverage. I'm not sure how wise/practical the latter would be in any case: it would give the insurance company complete monopoly power.

Hill said he hoped much of the cost would be paid for by controls on health care spending, but he acknowledged that a tax on individuals earning more than $250,000 or couples earning more than $300,000 annually could be necessary.

Baron is going to need health care coverage for his apparent crack addiction. Spending reduced with more coverage and more government. LOL! And a tax on that small subset is not enough to pay for everything he promised above.

I like Hoosier Pundit's references to "think happy thoughts" in describing Baron's stated beliefs on this stuff. Hilarious!