Ex-Senate Leaders Come Together For Health Care Compromise

[babylonsister]

Ex-Senate Leaders Unveiling Health Care Compromise

June 17, 2009 03:03 AM EST | AP


WASHINGTON — Trying to prevent a repeat of the 1990s standoff over health care, four former Senate leaders are preparing a plan that combines ideas from both political parties to guarantee coverage for all.

Democrats Tom Daschle and George Mitchell are set to join Republicans Bob Dole and Howard Baker on Wednesday to release a $1.2 trillion proposal that would be fully paid for with a combination of spending cuts and tax increases.

A summary of the plan calls for an individual requirement to carry health insurance, an idea that many Republicans support. But it would also impose new levies on large companies that don't provide coverage to their workers, an approach preferred by Democrats.

Perhaps the most controversial part calls for taxing health insurance benefits worth more than the value of the coverage that members of Congress get.

Republicans have supported such an approach, arguing it would encourage people to switch to less expensive insurance plans, and that might cut overall costs in the long run. But unions, a major Democratic constituency, are adamantly opposed.

more...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/17/ex-senate-leaders-unveili_n_216650.html

[Mass]

1. "Leave it to the states to to create publicly sponsored insurance plans that would compete with

private insurers.

Another group of people who are afraid to offend private insurers.

[hoosier_lefty]

2. Why don't they cut the pentagon's budget?

Don't they spend around 1.6 trillion a year?

It seems you could trim a lot of fat off that hog!

[Winterblues]

3. If the people wanted their advice they would still be in office

Just who the fuck do they think they are anyway, elder statesmen? Butt the fuck out and let Obama handle this.

[joeybee12]

4. Title is misleading...they're coming together for health care COMPANIES...n/t