Members of Congress haven't read the 1,018-page proposed healthcare-reform legislation, but then, apparently neither has President Obama.
The president recently confessed he is "not familiar" with key provisions of the legislation.
According to a Heritage Foundation post, Obama's embarrassing admission came during a conference call with left-leaning bloggers.
Obama urged the bloggers to continue pressuring Congress to pass health-care reform immediately. During that call, Heritage reports, a blogger referenced an article in Investor's Business Daily indicating Section 102 of the House bill would "outlaw" private insurance.
"Is this true?" the blogger asked Obama. "Will people be able to keep their insurance and will insurers be able to write new policies even though H.R. 3200 is passed?"
The president's response on behalf of the legislation he is pushing through Congress: "You know, I have to say that I am not familiar with the provision you are talking about."
That response prompted the think tank to state: "This is a truly disturbing admission by the president, especially considering that later in the call, Obama promises yet again: 'If you have health insurance, and you like it, and you have a doctor that you like, then you can keep it. Period.'"
The rhetorical question posed by Heritage: "How can Obama keep making this promise if he is not familiar with the health legislation that is being written in Congress?"
No version of the legislation now under consideration "outlaws" private insurance coverage. However, it increases its cost relative to publicly subsidized plans in a way that leads some experts to believe private insurance would no longer be a viable option.
A Heritage-Lewin Group report released Monday found that close to 100 million policy holders may be forced to change insurance plans if Congress passes the bill supported by Obama.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.