Economists Echo Public Skepticism Of Obama On Spending, Health Care

by Sam Adams MMIV: The AP reports today that a new survey of business economists finds they’re “skeptical of the government's ability to rein in spending, curb greenhouse gases or overhaul health care . . . .” According to the survey, economists believe that inflation will be higher than the Federal Reserve’s targets in the future. The AP writes, “The prediction reflects economists' concerns about the federal government's ability to reverse the steps it has taken to stimulate growth. A large majority doubt federal lawmakers can bring down spending. Three quarters said they want a more restrictive fiscal policy over the next two years — only 28% expect it to happen.”

Reuters notes, “Most economists in the National Association for Business Economics (NABE) semi-annual poll were concerned about the outlook for the U.S. government budget. Also, they doubted health-care reforms proposed by the Obama administration would lower costs while increasing access and maintaining quality.”

Indeed, according to the AP report, “None of the major health care proposals being debated in Congress drew much support from the economists surveyed. Fewer than half believe most of the proposals would bring overall improvements in health care, give more Americans access to it or drive down costs. Forty-seven percent expect the reforms would ‘decrease quality and increase costs.’”

It seems economists are just as disappointed with the Obama administration’s performance on spending and health care as the public at large. In the recent ABC News/Washington Post poll, Americans disapproved of the president’s handling of health care by 50%-46% and disapproved of his handling of the deficit by 53%-41%. When Congress returns from recess, Democrats might want to reconsider the wisdom of pushing a health care reform plan that will only exacerbate the government’s fiscal problems while doing little to improve health care in the country.
[Sam Adams MMIV is a pen name for an un-named beltway source.]

---

Tags: health care, nationalized health care, skepticism To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!