“WASHINGTON (CNN) – Hours before President Barack Obama holds a prime time news conference to push for health care reform, a new CNN Poll of Polls indicates that less than half the country approves of how he’s handling the issue.”
“According to the CNN Poll of Polls, 47 percent approve of how the president’s dealing with health care reform, with 44 percent disapproving.”
Calls to Congress are running 15 to 1 against the bill! Support in his own party is crumbling!
“…the most damaging news came from Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Director Douglas Elmendorf, who said last week that the White House’s health-care proposals would not ‘reduce the trajectory of federal health spending by a significant amount.’ This shattered the central claim Mr. Obama has been making: that his health-care plan controls costs. In a July 17 letter, Mr. Elmendorf added that the House’s health-care bill would result in a ‘net increase in the federal budget deficit of $239 billion’ over 10 years. That’s likely a low-ball estimate because it assumes that Congress will increase taxes by $583 billion over the next decade.”
“Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charlie Rangel says he’ll pay for the Obama health proposal by raising taxes on Americans making $280,000 a year ($350,000 for couples). Most of those stuck with higher taxes will be small business owners. Even Democrats don’t like that approach: 21 of 39 freshmen House Democrats penned a letter opposing the tax hike. Many are among the 66 Democrats from districts that either Mr. Bush or John McCain carried in recent presidential elections. Mr. Obama shrugged off the letter by saying that the surtax would only force some to pay ‘a little bit more.’” http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203517304574304161389163586.html#mod=article-outset-box
