Media Alert: A second radio interview for today (Tuesday) has been scheduled, and more are coming. Downsize DC is in-demand. Please check our blog regularly for listening details.

Quote of the Day: "In 2006, Massachusetts snuck a health care boondoggle past the voters by pushing 20 percent of the cost on to the federal government and 60 percent onto private individuals and employers, according to data from the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation." -- Michael F. Cannon of the Cato Institute, writing in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Subject: Another shocking fact about the true costs of the big health care bill

Yesterday we told you that the big health care bill delays the full implementation of its programs until after the 10-year period evaluated by the CBO (Congressional Budget Office). This serves to hide the fact that these programs will probably cost at least 50% more than the $1.2 trillion reported by the CBO.

But it gets worse . . .

* The $1.2 trillion cost reported by the CBO only includes ON-BUDGET items
* The bill also imposes other huge costs on taxpayers that won't be reflected in the federal budget

This is one of the tricks Republican Governor Mitt Romney used to pass his train-wreck health care bill in Massachusetts, and now the Democrats in Congress are pursuing the same fraudulent course.

We've said it before, we'll say it again -- you won't get what you want just because a politician holds office who happens to wear the partisan label you like. The labels mean nothing! You will only get what you want by raising a stink, and doing it constantly, with overwhelming pressure. Now here's how the Democrats are using Mitt Romney's playbook to defraud you . . .

The big health care bill imposes mandates on the states, on employers, and on individuals. These mandates will result in massive expenses, NONE of which are included in the CBO's estimate that the bill will cost taxpayers $1.2 trillion over 10 years.

* State governments will have to spend more on Medicaid, which you will pay through higher state taxes or increased debt
* Many employers will have to buy health insurance for their workers, or pay a fine to the government
* These increased costs to employers may result in lower wages or increased unemployment -- probably both
* Individuals who don't currently have health insurance will have to buy such insurance, by law

These expenses aren't included in the estimated cost of $1.2 trillion. Michael F. Cannon of the Cato Institute sums it up . . .

"President Barack Obama’s plan would commit states to increase Medicaid spending (governors are furious) and require individuals and employers to spend more on health insurance (Obama’s top economist, Larry Summers, says those mandates 'are like public programs financed by benefit taxes'."

Please send Congress another message opposing the Big Government health care bill.

This time use your personal comments to say something like the following . . .

"I know that the full cost of implementing the big health care bill isn't included in the $1.2 trillion reported by the Congressional Office. Please have the CBO report not only the real on-budget cost of full implementation, as well as the full OFF-BUDGET costs of the various mandates on state governments, employers, and individuals. I will view failure to make this happen as a major dereliction of duty."

After you've sent your letter to Congress please also alert others, and ask them to send a similar message to Congress using DownsizeDC.org's Educate the Powerful System.

To stay on pace to exceed the 50,802 messages Downsizers sent to Congress last month we must send 2,607 messages today.

Thank you for being a part of the growing Downsize DC Army. To see how fast YOUR ARMY is growing, please check out the Keeping Score Report below my signature.

Jim Babka
President
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.

KEEPING SCORE REPORT

Your Downsize DC Army grew by 9 net new members yesterday, bringing us to 3,519 net new members for the year. The Downsize DC Army now stands at 27,868 -- nearly 87% of the way between 27,000 and 28,000!

YOU can make the army grow even faster by following our quick and easy instructions for personalized recruiting.

We can also grow faster by spreading the word through the media. Please help us do this by starting a monthly credit card pledge -- it can be as low as $5 a month (which is just 17 cents per day). You can start your pledge using our secure online contribution form.

Please let us know if its okay to advertise your support here:

NEW MONTHLY PLEDGERS IN AUGUST: Gary J Leidy, David Bergland, Gary T Gorski, Don J Crites, 4 unlisted -- (8 total) FROM JULY: Barbara Greenhouse, Henry Wood, Donald B. Fox, Mickey Adams, Mary E Sullivan, Raul A., Michael Jones, Alan Farrar, Emma Flores, Michael S Gerlica, John C Matthews, Cheston E Unnewehr, Val Grayson, Arlene Aquino, Susan Varey, Chris Sengenberger, John DiLiberto, 3 unlisted -- 20 total.

Or, you could make a one-time donation. Please let us know on our secure contribution form if its okay to advertise your support here:

NEW ONE TIME DONORS IN AUGUST: Michael Bayback, Ann & Todd Secoy (in memory of Julia Bitner), James Marranca, Kay Samalin, David Hyatt, Douglas Steinschneider, Lily Riker, Nicholas C. Beason, Mr. Marlin, Edward J. Krieger, Lynnette Thompson, 7 unlisted -- (18 total) FROM JULY: Robert Lonaberger, Lucy Cole, Donald E Forward, Steven J Lavelle, Karen Glasgow, Brian Keith, Susan Thomas, Chelsea Moller, Michael Herman, Bonnie Hofer, Anita Binns, Brian O'Neill, Richard E Camp, Travis Walston, Donald Grahn, Sonja Thompson, 16 unlisted -- 32 total.

If a tax deduction is important you can get one by contributing to the educational outreach efforts of the Downsize DC Foundation. Contribute at the Foundation's secure contribution form. https://secure.downsizedc.com/contribute/