ObamaCare, Alcohol Taxes, and Insurance Companies

David Brooks, who supported Obama in 2008, talks about the hidden costs of health care.

Maryland legislators want to raise the tax on alcohol.

Supporters of the health care bill attack the greed of health insurance companies.

1. HEALTH

David Brooks, who supported Obama in 2008, talks about the hidden costs of health care.

CEI Expert Available to Comment: Senior Counsel Hans Bader on the negative consequences of ObamaCare.

“ObamaCare would reduce medical innovation, raise taxes, drive up insurance premiums, break campaign promises, and increase state deficits.  It  would cut the quality of  care, while imposing restrictions that failed when tried at the state level.  It ignores advice from experts about how to cut costs.”

2. TAXES

Maryland legislators want to raise the tax on alcohol.

CEI Expert Available to Comment: Director of Risk and Environmental Policy Angela Logomasini on the proposed tax plan.

“Allegedly, the funds would be used to help those in need, including the mentally ill, as the taxes could theoretically defray state health care costs. [. . . ] But such advocates put too much faith in government. Maryland’s health care problems have nothing to do with low state taxes. Despite relatively low alcohol taxes, Maryland’s per-capita state taxes are among the top five highest in the nation, according to another Tax Foundation report.”

3. HEALTH

Supporters of the health care bill attack the greed of health insurance companies.

CEI Expert Available to Comment: Warren Brooks Fellow Ryan Young on why the health care plan actually means more money for insurance companies.

“The health care bill, by the way, would legally require people to give a lot of money to those same insurance companies. A lot of money. It would be the largest corporate gift Washington has ever given out — as much as $1.5 trillion over ten years by one estimate.”