Robert Reich: A Worried Postscript To The House Health Care Bill

[Hissyspit]

http://robertreich.org/post/459007965/a-worried-postscript-to-the-house-health-care-bill

A Worried Postscript to the House Health Care Bill

FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 2010
Nothing that’s legislated is perfect and in my view the good that will come from passing health care legislation outweighs the bad, but be warned: the pending House bill (that will go to the Senate for a “reconcilation” vote) does not repeal the antitrust exemption for health insurers, nor does it contain a public insurance option.

It thereby will allow health insurers to continue to consolidate into even larger entities, gain as much market power as they can, and charge ever higher prices. Yet Americans will be required to buy health insurance from them. Assuming the bill becomes law, this dissonance spells trouble. It will have to be addressed before 2014, when the bill takes effect.

[leeroysphitz]

1. "It will have to be addressed before 2014, when the bill takes effect."

They might want to try to get that done a couple of years sooner than that.

Just saying.

[girl gone mad]

2. If the dissonance isn't addressed by congress..

it will be by voters, or at the very least by consumer revolt.

[upi402]

3. when this water-carrier fights to repeal NAFTA i'll listen to him

:grr:

[kentuck]

5. Didn't he resign from the Clinton Administration after NAFTA??

I thought he was strong pro-union?

[ibegurpard]

4. ya think?

[Lasher]

6. OK so we can't get the votes right now to repeal antitrust exemption or pass a public option.

What exactly is going to change between now and 2014 that will give us the votes to do these things? Nothing, that's what. The 11th Congress couldn't get this done at any time between January 2009 and now. They're not going to get it done between now and the rest of the year either.

We're going to lose seats in the midterms, which are now just a little over 7 months away. Our gutless Congressional majority will be diminished and we might not even be able to hang onto it. This will make it even less lkely that these legislative changes will occur. The more conservative 112th Congress will be in control until the end of 2012.

In November 2012 we might pick up a few Congressional seats. Might not. Obama might get re-elected then. Might not. But it's not likely that we will at that time gain a more powerful advantage than we have right now in the Executive and Legislative branches. We can't get this done now and we probably won't get it done before 2014.