Special Report correspondent claimed Clinton would pay for health care plan by "repealing the Bush tax cuts"

On the September 17 edition of Fox News' Special Report, Fox News correspondent Steve Brown claimed that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) would pay for her health care plan, which would, according to Clinton, "make health care both universal and affordable for everyone," by "repealing the Bush tax cuts." Brown's report was accompanied by an on-screen graphic that claimed "paying the price tag" for Clinton's health care plan would include "End[ing] Bush Tax Cuts." In fact, according to Clinton's plan, as outlined on her presidential campaign website, she would "discontinue portions of the Bush tax cuts for those making over $250,000." Clinton's website also claims that "the plan provides a net tax cut for American taxpayers," which Brown did not report.

Clinton stated in a September 17 speech that she would not pay for her health care plan "by raising taxes on middle class families who are already struggling with rising costs and stagnant wages." Clinton added, "I will pay for some of it by rolling back part of President Bush's fiscally irresponsible tax breaks for the highest income Americans." From Clinton's speech:

Now, how will I pay for this plan? First let me tell you how I will not pay for it. I won't pay for it by pouring money into a broken system. I won't pay for it by raising taxes on middle class families who are already struggling with rising costs and stagnant wages. Instead, I'll pay for part of it by implementing the cost saving measures I outlined in May. And I will pay for some of it by rolling back part of President Bush's fiscally irresponsible tax breaks for the highest income Americans.

And I'll pay for some of it by limiting the tax breaks for people making over $250,000 a year to the same level that ordinary, middle class Americans get. Right now, the highest income Americans get some of the most generous health care benefits and the most generous tax deductions to go with them. Well-off Americans should be able to deduct the cost of the same quality health plan that middle-income families can deduct. If they want to receive extra benefits beyond what most middle income families get, they should pay for it themselves, not have taxpayers foot the bill for them.

From Clinton's campaign website:

A Net Tax Cut for American Taxpayers: The plan offers tens of millions of Americans a new tax credit to make premiums affordable-which more than offsets the increased revenues from the Plan's provisions to limit the employer tax exclusion for health care and discontinue portions of the Bush tax cuts for those making over $250,000. Thus, the plan provides a net tax cut for American taxpayers.

Brown also noted that Clinton would also "limit[] tax benefits for households making a quarter million dollars and up" to help pay for her plan -- a reference to Clinton's proposed policy of "limit[ing] the [employer tax] exclusion [for health care] for the high-end portion of very generous plans for those making over $250,000." From Clinton's campaign website:

Making the Employer Tax Exclusion for Healthcare Fairer: The plan protects the current exclusion from taxes of employer-provided health premiums, but limits the exclusion for the high-end portion of very generous plans for those making over $250,000.

From the September 17 edition of Fox News' Special Report with Brit Hume:

BRIT HUME (host): Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton says if she wins the White House not only will all Americans have health care coverage, but they will have a choice of plans. Correspondent Steve Brown reports on Mrs. Clinton's new and improved version of an idea with a somewhat checkered past.

[begin video clip]

CLINTON: I believe everyone -- every man, woman, and child -- should have quality, affordable health care in America.

BROWN: Saying it's the right thing to do, Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton rolled out her new vision for universal health care in America.

CLINTON: Your commitment to health care reform --

BROWN: It was 14 years ago that then-first lady Hillary Clinton led efforts for her husband President Bill Clinton's complex and bureaucratic version of universal coverage, which failed to get the approval of a Democratically controlled Congress.

CLINTON: I still have the scars to show from that exercise.

BROWN: Senator Clinton today says she is older and wiser; and this go-around, her health care vision has options. People could keep the health care insurance they have now, or pick from the same menu of plans offered to members of Congress, or a plan similar to Medicare. But every American would be required to have some form of medical coverage.

CLINTON: Much like drivers in most states are required to purchase car insurance, all Americans will have a responsibility to get and keep health insurance.

BROWN: Similar to the requirement in Massachusetts' version of universal care, signed into law when Mitt Romney was the state's governor. Romney is not pushing the Massachusetts plan now, but says individual states should come up with plans of their own.

MITT ROMNEY (Republican presidential candidate): Mine is entirely different. Her plan is crafted by Washington; mine is crafted by individual states. Her plan has government insurance; mine has private insurance. Her plan raises taxes; mine does not raise taxes.

BROWN: Paying for Clinton's plan would include a mandated modernization for insurers, containing prescription drug costs, repealing the Bush tax cuts, and limiting tax benefits for households making a quarter-million dollars and up. All told, $110 billion to start.