October 27th, 2009, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government President Bill Wilson today denounced Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for “trying to put the so-called ‘public option’ on life support with a cynical and duplicitous ‘opt-out’ ploy.”
At the same time, Wilson applauded Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) for promising to join Republicans in filibustering the “public option.” “Senator Lieberman is a hero in this frightful debate over the government takeover of the entire health care system. We need more heroes who are willing to buck Harry Reid.”
Lieberman said he would vote against the bill “”even with an opt-out because it still creates a whole new government entitlement program for which taxpayers will be on the line.”
“This public option ‘opt-out’ is nothing more than a scam,” said Wilson. “The federal government will still hold all of the cards, and use subsidy ‘incentives’ to essentially force states onto government-run healthcare. In the end, states will be punished one way or another for not participating.”
“For example, the government could make additional federal funding for Medicaid contingent upon participation in ObamaCare,” Wilson explained. “The fact is, the government has managed to achieve 100 percent state participation in receiving tax dollars in everything from education to ‘No Child Left Behind’ to transportation. They’ll get what they want, one way or another through the most draconian thumb-screw thuggery.”
“To make matters worse,” Wilson added, “even if states decide they do not want to participate, individual taxpayers will still be forced to foot the federal tax bill—just like parents who are forced to pay for public schools even though they send their kids to private school,” Wilson said.
“The fact is, this will not pay for itself—it will top $2 trillion over ten years once fully implemented—which is why everyone will be forced to chip in whether or not they directly receive services. It’s just another unsustainable welfare entitlement—and one that will surely bankrupt the entire health system and the public treasury,” Wilson explained.
Yesterday, Reid held a press conference to announce his proposal. He stated, “Under this concept, states will be able to determine whether the public option works well for them and will have the ability to opt out if they so choose.”
According to Reid, states would only have until 2014 to make their decision.
“There are a lot of outstanding questions on the ‘Reid Opt-Out.’ Namely, why is this an ‘opt-out’ instead of an ‘opt-in?’ No business in America could get away with an ‘opt-out’ when selling a product. In Harry Reid’s world, taxpayers will get the bill for trillions of dollars for ObamaCare before they even get to decide that they do not want it,” Wilson added.
“And even if states say no, taxpayers will still have to pay,” Wilson concluded.
Interview Availability: Please contact Alex Rosenwald at (703)383-0880 or at arosenwald@getliberty.org to arrange an interview with ALG President Bill Wilson.
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