If you’ll forgive the martial metaphors — and some of you won’t — The House Republicans, having completed their frontal demonstration against Obamacare, will now commence their main attack on its flanks. At least six House committees — Energy, Budget, Ways and Means, Small Business, Education, and Judiciary — will hold hearings on aspects of the bill, consider de-funding and other challenges, and report out alternative legislation.
Today, Paul Ryan’s Budget Committee announced its first hearing, next Wednesday, “dedicated to examining whether the Democrats’ new health care law – with its maze of mandates, dictates, controls, tax hikes and subsidies – will drive costs up even faster.”
Witnesses will include chief Medicare actuary Richard S. Foster, who during debate on the ACA warned the Obama administration it was likely to drive up costs and push doctors out of the Medicare fold. Also testifying, NRO contributor James C. Capretta.