The CBS video  calls the National Coalition on Healthcare a “non-partisan” group, but the NY Times in February 2009 had this to say: WASHINGTON — When Newt Gingrich’s Congress was moving full-speed in its efforts to shrink the government more than a dozen years ago, Ralph G. Neas, an indefatigable champion of liberal causes, threw up his hands and declared that his side had been outmaneuvered. Mr Neas now runs the National Coalition on Healthcare.

The point of the video is that town hall objectors do not know what is in the bill. I know what is in H.R. 3200 because I read it and unless it is radically changed by the time it is passed, what the objectors are say is exactly correct.

Jonathan Overlander of UNC states all companies must provide healthcare to their employees, and only the smallest employer would not. The small employer and individuals would go to the Health Insurance Exchange [HIE] to get insurance. The government would give these people subsidies.  He is basically correct, but critics say that once the government plan is in place private insurers will not be able to compete, so there will be no companies participating in the HIE

The woman CBS reporter then says “and each of the proposals would EXPAND Medicaid” She neglects to say that it will reduce Medicare benefits for the elderly and that is why most seniors object to the government takeover of the entire population. They know that if Medicare is broke, bringing in more people will require higher taxes. The president admits that he will have to increase taxes and make cuts in service. She has the liberal talking points that the “public option” or government option would be “available” alongside private plans. But it will be more than available it will be mandatory in five years the way some read the bill. She refers to objectors as “people yelling” instead of concerned citizens.

Finally Mr. Neas reappears and says that President Obama is not using the government option as a stalking horse for a single payer system. The “people yelling” actually heard Obama say that several time during his campaign and Barney Frank said it as well. Mr. Neas needs to pay more attention.  Mr. Neas said H.R. 3200 contains language that federal money “can not” be used for abortions. I found no such language in the bill when I read it. Perhaps someone could enlighten me. Mr. Neas was not specific about exactly which section of the bill contains that language. Abortion is simple a medical procedure that is already covered under Medicaid.

Mr. Neas said that one-half of all foreclosures and bankruptcies are because people can’t pay their medical bills. Can’t say if that is true or not, but according to the Huffington Post, which is not a conservative think tank: “They found that medical bills were a factor in 23 percent of home foreclosures.” Maybe Mr. Neas has better information? But then a Harvard study came up with this: More than 75% of the families who filed for bankruptcy because of medical bills had health care coverage of some kind. Their insurance simply didn’t pay significant parts of their bills.”

In the end, people want the government to say out of their lives and this has the politicians in Washington running for cover.