Buried in the Medicare bill is a “cost containment” provision, which provides an expiated procedure to enact legislation limiting the amount spent on Medicare from the government’s “general fund” (Medicare is financed by a combination of payroll taxes, premiums on seniors, and funds appropriated by Congress). The GOP leadership is using the cost containment provisions to entice conservatives into voting for the bill, on the theory that this provision makes it easier to control Medicare spending. However, the provision would also allow Congress to hike the payroll tax with a minimum of debate or public scrutiny. Knowing the proclivities of our rulers, what is Congress more likely to do?

Remember when the GOP opposed Hillarycare and making it easy for Congress to raise taxes?