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Democrats Lose Ground in Health Care Debate (Alex Wayne, 6/17/09, CQ)

[T]he last 24 hours have seen a barrage of criticism from Republicans over a preliminary cost estimate for the Democrats’ starter bill.

The cost estimate, called a “score” by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), said portions of the measure would cost $1 trillion over 10 years, while accomplishing only a modest increase in insurance coverage. More than 30 million people would remain uninsured if the bill were enacted, CBO estimated, although the agency cautioned that it had not examined other proposals to expand coverage, including an expansion of Medicaid, the health entitlement for the poor, or a new government-run insurance plan to compete with private insurance.

Republicans were quick to pounce.

“What has been scored is astronomical,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. “It is not ready to go forward.”

“The plan Democrats are proposing is a very radical solution with a lot of unknowns and an unaffordable price tag,” said Rep. Chris Lee, R-N.Y., while contrasting the Kennedy bill with a plan offered by a group of moderate House Republicans on Tuesday.