Originally Posted by bkcunningham1

According to the article, "It was not immediately clear how much of the $80 billion would benefit Medicare beneficiaries directly and what portion would accrue to the federal Treasury. The offer is contingent upon enactment of a sweeping health-system overhaul.

"For the past week, Obama and congressional Democrats have struggled to overcome anxiety that extending health coverage to tens of millions of uninsured Americans might cost the nation more than $100 billion a year. While surveys show a majority of voters are eager for broad changes to the nation's health system, polls also indicate growing unease over the rising deficit and the financial burden of a series of industry bailouts."