The next 24 hours will determine the fate of the nation's medical systems and one-sixth of the natonal economy, U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert said in a her weekly newsletter.
Biggert, along with the entire GOP Congressional Delegation is tirelessly working to defeat the health care proposal scheduled to be voted for on Sunday.
"Right now, Democrat leaders are twisting arms and making deals behind closed doors in the hunt for the last few votes that could put them beyond the 216 vote threshold needed to make government-run health care a reality. And they are racing the clock to get this bill through before wavering Democrats have to go back home and face constituents deeply upset with what they're hearing from Washington," Biggert said. " In the meantime, the phone lines into the Capital building are ringing off the hook, overwhelming the system and sending busy signals across the country. From my conversations with other members, it's clear that the vast majority of those calls are coming from folks with grave concerns about the bill and the undemocratic process being used to force it through. Let's hope those on the fence start listening to the American people, not just to their political bosses in Washington."
While Democrats painted a rosy picture with a prelimanry report from the Congressional Budget Office, Biggert said the people should look beyond the spin from the left side of the aisle.
"The bill, as written, assumes - improbably -- that Congress is going to slash Medicare payments to doctors by over 20 percent. The calculation also is based on the idea that all but $17 billion in spending would be put off for the first four years. According to the Wall Street Journal, 'The real cost over a decade once all the spending kicks in: $2.4 trillion.,'" she said. "And how will that cost be paid for? According a report by the House Ways and Means Committee, the IRS may need to hire as many as 16,500 additional auditors, agents and other employees to investigate and collect billions in new taxes from Americans. These inspectors will be needed to police those who fail to buy a government-approved health plan."
Biggert said the vote remains close and anything can happen within the next 24 hours.
This morning Democrats said they plan to scrap the "deem and pass" option and head for a straight up and down vote, according to The Hill. This could indicate they have more votes than expected, or are afraid of November casualties if the bill is passed through a procedural method.