How can Obamacare save money for Medicare? Easy. Double count; apply the same savings to both organizations. Apparently that's what Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius did.

Speaking at session of the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, Rep John Shimkus (R-IL) asked
her

"There is an issue here on the budget because your own actuary has said you can't double-count," said Shimkus. "You can't count - they're attacking Medicare on the CR when their bill, your law, cut $500 billion from Medicare."

He continued: "Then you're also using the same $500 billion to what? Say your funding health care. Your own actuary says you can't do both. [...] What's the $500 billion in cuts for? Preserving Medicare or funding the health-care law?

Sebelius' reply? "Both."

Well, at least she was honest.

I was shocked to hear the secretary admit that $500 billion is double-counted in the health-care law," said Shimkus after Thursday's hearing. "We knew the health-care law's actual cost was much greater than originally told to the public. And now, the truth is slowly coming out in administration reports and testimony."

Rep. Joe Pitts of Pennsylvania , the chairman of the subcommittee added, "The same dollar can't be used twice. This is the largest of the many budget gimmicks Democrats used to claim Obamacare would reduce the deficit."

Shocked? Rep Shimkus, that's the Chicago Way.