Dem Plans Put Reform On Shaky Ground
Obama faces the risk that his allies will chisel two dangerous cracks into the health plan's foundation.
by Ronald Brownstein
National Journal
Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009
One message President Obama has pressed upon congressional Democrats is that the top priority in health care reform is establishing the principle that all Americans are entitled to decent coverage.
His point is that advocates shouldn't obsess about shoehorning every idea they favor into the legislation; once the basic framework is built, Congress will adjust the details over time, as it has with all other major social-policy innovations.
That's an accurate reading of American history. But it's also true that it's easier to renovate a house that has a sturdy foundation. And Obama now faces the risk that in the final maneuvering, his allies will chisel two dangerous cracks into the plan's base.
One threat revolves around an amendment adopted by the Senate Finance Committee from Sens. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, that eroded the bill's cornerstone provision: the mandate that individuals buy health insurance, with help from government subsidies if necessary. Under the amendment, Americans would be exempt from the mandate if they cannot find insurance costing 8 percent or less of their income; the bill originally set the cutoff at 10 percent. The amendment also slashed the penalties for those who simply ignore the mandate: Fines would start at zero and rise to only $750 by 2017.
(More here.)
by Ronald Brownstein
National Journal
Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009
One message President Obama has pressed upon congressional Democrats is that the top priority in health care reform is establishing the principle that all Americans are entitled to decent coverage.
His point is that advocates shouldn't obsess about shoehorning every idea they favor into the legislation; once the basic framework is built, Congress will adjust the details over time, as it has with all other major social-policy innovations.
That's an accurate reading of American history. But it's also true that it's easier to renovate a house that has a sturdy foundation. And Obama now faces the risk that in the final maneuvering, his allies will chisel two dangerous cracks into the plan's base.
One threat revolves around an amendment adopted by the Senate Finance Committee from Sens. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, that eroded the bill's cornerstone provision: the mandate that individuals buy health insurance, with help from government subsidies if necessary. Under the amendment, Americans would be exempt from the mandate if they cannot find insurance costing 8 percent or less of their income; the bill originally set the cutoff at 10 percent. The amendment also slashed the penalties for those who simply ignore the mandate: Fines would start at zero and rise to only $750 by 2017.
(More here.)
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