Dumb as a bag of hammers, or staggeringly deceitful? Of course, there's always room for both with Rep. Michele Bachmann, who just "discovered" $105 billion in "secret" money in the Affordable Care Act. Here she is on Fox News revealing her "bombshell."

There is no “secret money.” Three full months before the House passed the Senate bill, CBO – charged with accurately estimating the cost of legislation – provided a cost estimate of the legislation (Dec 19, 2009) that included the provisions Rep. Bachmann has just “discovered.” The final cost estimate was available on March 20, 2010 – a year ago. (CBO also concluded that the Affordable Care Act will reduce the deficit by $210 billion). The funds Rep. Bachmann is referring to are allocated for patients’ and other consumer protections such as the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), high risk pools for individuals with pre-existing conditions, grants for states to review health insurance premium increases, abstinence education, and background checks on long-term care providers. [CRS, 10/14/10]

Now, she might not have actually read the bill she voted on, or read the law she's been lying about for all these months. That's entirely possible. Because that "secret" money was right there, in the bill all along, as the House Democratic leadership team tweets:

The reaction to Bachmann's assertion have been priceless, particulary those coming from Republicans:

Alec Vachon, a former Republican congressional staffer:

“It’s a bill — the text is public! Is Congresswoman Bachmann saying there are no House Republicans, members or staff, who can read a bill?” [Politifact, 3/8] Steve Ellis, Taxpayers for Common Sense:

“I’m not saying that everybody knew everything that was in the health care bill, because it’s almost impossible to do that. But it was documented that the money was in there. Shame on them if they didn’t know that.” [Politifact, 3/8] Senior GOP Official:

A senior GOP official also told Fox News that “there are revenue streams” mandated for most of the programs, but they don’t add up to $105 billion as Bachmann claims. “It’s wrong,” the official said, adding that, besides, “no Congress can bind a future Congress.” The official also disputed the charge that the money was hidden. [FOX, 3/8]

Yep, she's ready for the prime-time, presidential stage.