Numerous Grant Programs Fatten Cost of Health Care Reform

FOXNews.com

There are a host of grant programs and other projects created under the health care reform bills that will cost billions on an annual basis, but have not attracted much attention in the debate so far.

Americans concerned that Congress may have forgotten the value of their tax dollars -- or in the case of health care reform, nearly a trillion dollars -- might want their lawmakers to rent the movie "Dave" this holiday weekend, and take a lesson in Cut the Fat 101.

Big-ticket items like the proposed government-run insurance plan and other aid programs have attracted the most heat in the debate so far. But there are a host of smaller programs that are sopping up federal dollars without a whole lot of public scrutiny.

And, they add up.

"There's definitely a lot of waste in it," said Erica Gordon, director of government affairs with Citizens Against Government Waste.

Dozens of grant programs, demonstration projects and new bureaucratic arms will be established under the proposed legislation. They target worthy goals like reducing obesity, training medical professionals, breaking through the language barrier in culturally diverse communities and improving maternal health. Some are considered preventive measures, aimed at reducing the country's long-term health care costs.
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