TAMPA, FL -- Democrats have touted their health care reform bill as deficit neutral and they claim it will come in under the President's cap of $900 billion dollars.
But, today some top Republicans claim the numbers don't add up.
During a teleconference, former CBO Director and McCain economic adviser Douglas Holtz-Eakin, along former Associate OMB Director for Health Policy James Capretta tossed out another number, $1.5 trillion.
The Democrats have pointed to provisions in the bill that will keep the cost in check, including a financial penalty people would be required to pay if they opt not to have insurance and a surtax on the wealthy.
But Holtz pointed to other programs that will cost money, like ones to encourage more people to become primary care physicians and incentives for wellness and prevention.
Holtz stopped short of accusing the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office of manipulating any numbers.
But, the call hosts did say the Democrats were using gimmicks to come up with the $900 billion dollar number.
