FEATURED JOBS
Comments (0)Thank God for Senator Max Baucus. With the country on the verge of splitting apart across party lines and ideology the Senator in one fell swoop has united us. For it does not matter if you are a Democrat or Republican, conservative or liberal, a libertarian or a progressive, everyone agrees that the health care reform bill introduced by the Senator from Montana, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, is one steaming, stinking mess that no one wants to step in.
Some of the highlights of the bill include a mandatory 13% “contribution” directly out of our paycheck to pay for the privilege of having health insurance. If one attempts to opt out of this, you’ll be fined half that amount. (This money all funnels directly to the insurance companies under the caveat that this will help keep the country’s deficit down.) Concerning pre-existing conditions – something the President wanted to outlaw – they’re still in the Baucus Bill. Can an insurance company discriminate by age? Thumbs up there - Baucus’ bill allows insurance companies to charge up to five times the premium price based on an individual’s age. There will be insurance exchanges, but with no oversight. So with a nod and a wink there goes competitive bidding.
The Baucus bill is also very clear on illegal immigrants. Not only does the plan exclude them, it makes it illegal – if they somehow circumvent the system – to buy health insurance, which is not only inhumane but foolhardy. This touches on another issue that opponents of health care reform have used to effectively cloud the reform issue. “Free” medical coverage – just like “free” education - for illegal immigrants is a symptom not the problem. If we all agree that the immigration system is broken than fix the system. Trying to pin law enforcement badges on doctors, nurses and teachers by demanding they validate citizenship is both ineffective and unfair. They are not, nor did they ever sign up to be border control agents. Congress simply can not continue to pass the buck on this issue. Legislation, i.e. law making, is their job and yes I understand this is a complex and emotionally charged one, but ignoring it will not make it go away.
As for the “dreaded public option” – it’s not there – not even a whisper. This guarantees absolutely no competition in the marketplace, i.e. that whole free market concept that makes our country great. In a nutshell the Baucus bill raises our insurance costs without changing a damn thing and making sure it never will change. The only folks who are happy with this bill – and they should be ecstatic - are the insurance companies. All of the major players saw their stock prices rise Wednesday in trading, so their $3 million investment in Baucus’ campaign chest was worth every penny and then some. One wonders if in fact the insurance industry was able to write a bill they would have been as audacious as the Senator from Montana has proven to be.
This brings us back to Baucus, whose pride Wednesday in announcing his solution can only be matched by his cluelessness. Tone deaf, ineffective and out of touch are terms that only begin to describe what he’s put on the table because “as is”, his bill has no future.
Republicans, who have said from the get-go they won’t vote for any health care reform bill will not be voting for this one – and rightfully so. Democrats will do what they do best and start bickering among themselves. Several have all ready stated that they need to start over – which is exactly what the Republicans were saying just a short week ago. Those of us who wondered if Congress is capable of doing anything productive just got our answer – a resounding “NO!”
This all begs the question – Who’s in charge? It’s beyond belief that with a Democratic majority in Congress and a Democratic administration in the White House, this bill – from a ranking Democratic Senator – saw the light of day. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi are the obvious culprits here but it’s not as if their lack of leadership and taking charge is something new. In fact it’s anything but. Looking at historical parallels – Lincoln, FDR, LBJ – all were able to gather their party behind them – and some from across the aisle - to pass the legislation they needed. Understanding that President Obama can’t move forward without his party it seems to be time for him to stop hoping Congress will do the right thing. The President needs to take charge and lead them to do the right thing. If a few arms are twisted and some feelings get hurt – so what? There are two wars and a deficit spiraling out of control that need to be dealt with responsibly. If Baucus’ bill with all of its “hard work and behind closed door negotiations” over the last several months is the best we can come up with than we’re all screwed.
