Narnia, Shangri-La, Atlantis, Congress

All lands of fantasy where anything can happen:

It is beyond fantastic to promise that future Congresses, for 10 straight years, will allow planned cuts in reimbursements to hospitals, other providers, and Medicare Advantage (thereby reducing the benefits of 25% of seniors in Medicare). The 1997 Balanced Budget Act pursued this strategy and successive Congresses steadily unwound its provisions. The very fact that this Congress is pursuing an expensive new entitlement belies the notion that members would be willing to cut existing ones.

Most astounding of all is what this Congress is willing to do to struggling middle-class families. The bill would impose nearly $400 billion in new taxes and fees. Nearly 90% of that burden will be shouldered by those making $200,000 or less.

To get the health care numbers to come in "deficit-neutral" Max Baucus just made stuff up. He may as well factored in "gold coins raining down from heaven" since this is a more likely scenario than Congress slashing a half-trillion dollars from Medicare.

More - From Betsy.