Eric Cantor: Health Care Law Full of "Budget Gimmickry"

On CBS' "The Early Show" this morning, the newly-minted House Majority Leader Eric Cantor reiterated the GOP's priority to repeal health care reform as one of its first congressional acts, arguing that the bill is a "job killer" and that it is costing the American people "over $1 trillion."

"Republicans are committed to cutting spending every single day here in this Congress. And we're also committed to cutting the job killing regulations that have accompanied the health care bill and many others," Cantor told "Early Show" co-anchor Erica Hill. "Next week, what we'll see on the floor is a bill to repeal the health care bill. It's important, I think, to remember that most Americans don't like the health care bill."

Cantor also disputed the claim, put forth by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, that the health care reform bill passed by Congress last year will actually reduce the deficit by $143 billion, calling the figure "budget gimmickry. "

"I think what we do know is the health care bill costs over $1 trillion," Cantor told Hill. "And we know it was full of budget gimmickry. And it spends money we don't have in this country."

In a letter released to House Speaker John Boehner this morning, however, the CBO argues that H.R. 2 -- the bill Republicans are proposing that would repeal health care reform -- would actually raise budget deficits by approximately $230 billion over the next ten years.

"Relative to current law, enacting H.R. 2 would, CBO estimates, increase federal budget deficits in the decade following 2019; similarly, the legislation would increase budget deficits in the decade following 2021 and in subsequent years," the letter reads."Consequently, over the 2012-2021 period, the effect of H.R. 2 on federal deficits as a result of changes in direct spending and revenues is likely to be an increase in the vicinity of $230 billion, plus or minus the effects of technical and economic changes to CBO's and JCT's projections for that period."

Nevertheless, Cantor renewed the GOP pledge to put forth the health care repeal bill next Wednesday, and brushed off concerns as to the merit of pursuing such an effort, which is unlikely to pass through the democratically-controlled Senate.

"If the Senate wants to continue to be the impediment for results, then they'll have to answer to the people of this country," Cantor said on CNBC's "Squawk Box" this morning.

Emphasizing the much-touted Republican goal to reduce federal spending and reign in the national budget, Cantor argued that the health care bill "stands in the way of small business job growth," and pledged "to find out what's going on in this bureaucracy in Washington and try to get them to stop passing the job killing regulations so we can get the economy back on track."

"We're going to be about a cut-and-go Congress," Cantor said.

But Republicans have come under fire in recent days for backtracking on a highly-publicized promise in the Republican "Pledge to America"to reduce discretionary non-defense spending in America by $100 billion in the federal budget this year - a reversal Cantor attributed to Congress's failure to pass a budget in the final days of 2010.

"The $100 billion was based on the fiscal year," Cantor said on ABC's Good Morning America. "And what happened, as you know, is when the Democrats ended the session last time, they didn't pass a budget. So we're in a situation where we have no budget right now, and we're gonna work hard to bring spending back to '08 levels."

Cantor argued that the original GOP goal had been "to reduce a discretionary non-defense spending down to '08 levels," and declined to name a new target figure when pressed by ABC's George Stephanopoulos.

Cantor also said that he hoped to work with Democrats on a plan to improve the economy. "When I spoke to the president yesterday, I told him we are very interested in what he has to say in the next couple weeks, especially when he comes up here to deliver the State of the Union address," Cantor said. "And I spoke to him specifically about the kinds of spending cuts that I hope he proposes in that address."

[WildeMoonChild]

Its such a shame some Americans put political leanings ahead of their common sense.. Or maybe I expect too much from my fellow citizens..

Conservatives forget for a minute this is your political party.
Do you remember the 2 word sound bite was "repeal & replace"? What happened to the "replace"? I saw on the news today Boehner pretty much say, yea my people will work on a replacement plan but theres no rush..? What? FOR MONTHS these ***hats said they wanted to repeal & replace but they don't have the replace part yet covered yet??
Conservatives.. your party thinks you're stupid. I would be offended

[brucearnold]

Who's kidding who here? Call it what you like, "nondefense discretionary spending" or "discretionary non-defense spending" is only 15% of the federal budget. And the pledge of the Kleptocracy's bought-and-paid-for Corporate Congress to reduce that slice by 20% equates to only an immaterial 3% shrinkage of the total spending pie. Are the American Sheeple so clueless that they think a 3% budget reduction will have any impact whatsoever on our snowballing national debt, which when combined with Uncle Sam's "unfunded obligations" is already a number too large to comprehend even by Bushbama's new Bankster Chief of Staff?!?

[oldbasicgal]

"full budget gimmickry". That's what has been happening to the budget for years. We want it stopped.

This HCA is so vast and so complex, no one can figure out what it will cost until after the damage is done. When it costs us several trillion more between now and 2013, it will be too late to say "oops, maybe it was a bad thing".

Let's repeal it NOW, because we KNOW that it is a bad thing for INDIVIDUAL AMERICANS NOW, we don't need to wait to figure out that point.

[noloyalisti]

These Republican actually want to open the donut hole again in Medicare. They actually WANT TO KILL GRANDMA. Literally!

[oldbasicgal]

I'm Grandma, and making Grandma pay a little more for her medications (which she probably won't) is better than having her doctor discuss her death at each visit and get paid for a lengthly visit for doing so. The idea disgusts me.

[buckfush500]

Yes the rich do not want to give handouts to lower and middle economic classes. But when the rich want wars to get oil (Iraq) or minerals (Afganistan) they do not hesitate to take the the children of these people to fight their battles and give their lives (and limbs in come cases) for the wealth of the rich. The rich have their deception that the lower classes are fighting for our "freedom" and somehow people believe it. This is the worst evil - welfare for the rich.

[Empire--George--]

What are they teaching you kids nowadays ?? are you a full-time student or graduate of the American-Hating Institute of Liberalism ? majoring in class warfare ?

[buckfush500]

to empire george: The old "class warfare" or the "liberal" argument. So predictable.

[IMO10]

$100 billion a year for 10 years to provide healthcare for all Americans and to regulate (vs. nationalize) health insurance...exactly what is Cantor objecting to? And his idea is?Based on what he says one can only conclude that he thinks
health insurance should only be available to the rich, the healthy, and public employees. Prove me wrong Cantor...

[reiner52]

No point in discussing this - repeal is just a silly waste of time, a game the repugs are playing to make a show for the teabaggers. The healthcare bill is here to stay - as is Social Security, Medicare, and the other safety nets for our people. The country that does not take care of its neediest people is not a great country - and this is a great country and we do take care of our people.

[Lifeson2112]

You've fallen for the progressive ideaology. A great country does not take care of its neediest people. It makes them able to take care of themselves. No more welfare state. Americans can pick themselves up and make it on their own.

[oldbasicgal]

Amen to Lifeson2112!

tp reomer52" If a government SSI official had seen Ted Williams on the side of the road (and I'm sure some did), they best they would have done is sign him up for welfare.

Glad someone NOT government took the time to read his sign and give him a hands UP and not a hand OUT, like the government gives.

[b481511]

All you libs need to go to work now and stop waiting for a check from the Government!!

[reiner52]

Sorry, but you must be lost - the last time this was relevant was 30 years ago.

[b481511]

I see the 'idiot' left is out today.2012 will flush the rest of the Democraps out of office.

[newsbarn]

1 - Cantor didnt even read the bill so how would he know?

2 - By not allowing ammendments the cons are saying they dont think folks with pre existing conditions should be allowed to buy health insurance.

3 - It wont happen, but if the health care bill were to be repealed, they wont redo it like they said.

[rightbehind]

Cantor didnt even read the bill so how would he know?
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That's right. Remember them complaining about what's the rush? The ignorant voters have got what they deserve. Republican ideology, health care is not a right, it's a market.

[strikerF2]

Can't remember the Dimocrat that read the Obamacare bill do you? did Anyone? Pelosi had to pass it so she could find out what was in it and she still don't know.