Fact Check: Obama's Budget Speech Misrepresented GOP Budget Plan

In an article posted today on FactCheck.Org the organization stated that Obama misrepresented the Republican's budget plan and exaggerated its impact on Americans during his April 13 speech.

Here are the Facts as they presented them:

■ Obama claimed the Republicans’ “Path to Prosperity” plan would cause “up to 50 million Americans … to lose their health insurance.” But that worst-case figure is based in part on speculation and assumptions.
■ He said the GOP plan would replace Medicare with “a voucher program that leaves seniors at the mercy of the insurance industry.” That’s an exaggeration. Nothing would change for those 55 and older. Those younger would get federal subsidies to buy private insurance from a Medicare exchange set up by the government.
■ He said “poor children,” “children with autism” and “kids with disabilities” would be left “to fend for themselves.” That, too, is an exaggeration. The GOP says states would have “freedom and flexibility to tailor a Medicaid program that fits the needs of their unique populations.” It doesn’t bar states from covering those children.
■ He repeated a deceptive talking point that the new health care law will reduce the deficit by $1 trillion. That’s the Democrats’ own estimate over a 20-year period. The Congressional Budget Office pegged the deficit savings at $210 billion over 10 years and warned that estimates beyond a decade are “more and more uncertain.”
■ He falsely claimed that making the Bush tax cuts permanent would give away “$1 trillion worth of tax cuts for every millionaire and billionaire.” That figure — which is actually $807 billion over 10 years — refers to tax cuts for individuals earning more than $200,000 and couples earning more than $250,000, not just millionaires and billionaires.
■ He said the tax burden on the wealthy is the lowest it has been in 50 years. But the most recent nonpartisan congressional analysis showed that the average federal tax rate for high-income taxpayers was lower in 1986.

Read More Here:http://factcheck.org/2011/04/factchecking-obamas-budget-speech/

48% Say Their Views Closer to Tea Party Than Congress

According to a recent Poll conducted by Rasmussen Reports 48% of likely voters say their views are closer to that of the Tea Party movement than they are to Congress. Only 22% say their views are closer to Congress and another 30% say they are not sure.
The recent Poll mirrors views that were held during a Poll last year in March.
Other findings in the Poll:

Forty-nine percent (49%) of voters think the Tea Party movement is good for the country, consistent with findings since May 2010. Twenty-six percent (26%) disagree and say the grassroots, small government movement is bad for America. Sixteen percent (16%) say neither.

 Forty-five percent (45%) say the average Tea Party member has a better understanding of the problems America faces today than the average member of Congress does. That figure is down seven points from a year ago. Still, today only 31% think the average member of Congress has a better understanding. Twenty-three percent (23%) are undecided.

One-third of voters continue to have ties to the Tea Party movement. That includes 22% who say they themselves are members and 12% more who say they have friends or family who belong. Those findings haven’t budged from the end of December. Fifty-two percent (52%) say they have no links to the Tea Party, but 14% are not sure.

Read More Here: 48% Say Their Views Closer to Tea Party Than Congress

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