GOP's "Four Common-Sense" Goals Currently Exist In Democratic Health Care Reform
As the bipartisan health care summit approaches, it would behoove Republicans to reacquaint themselves with recent history before they enter negotiations. Republican members of Congress have had numerous opportunities to work with Democrats in crafting reform legislation - not only in the early drafting stages but also in the various committees the bills had to go through before appearing on the floor of each chamber.
Unsurprisingly, however, Congressional Republicans have forgotten the events of the past year and continue to whine about being left out of the process. They are ignoring the obstruction, delays, and plain deceit their party introduced into the conversation. And if their childish political maneuvers weren't enough, the GOP has also decided to ignore the many reform policies included in the legislation that they actually agree with and fully support.
GOP.gov and House Republican Leader John Boehner put forth their "four common-sense reforms" for health care...while forgetting to double check the Democratic bills to see if those "common-sense" ideas were included. The White House showed further good faith in the release of its health care compromise, which contains multiple Republican ideas in addition to the "common-sense" plans of the GOP.
|
Republican Idea |
Democratic Legislation |
President Obama's Proposal |
|
Allow Americans to buy insurance across state lines. |
House: National Exchange Senate: State-based Exchanges |
White House Plan: "More Choices, Greater Competition -- Health Insurance Exchange - Americans who lose their jobs, change jobs, move out of state, get divorced or get sick will have the peace of mind and security of knowing they will always have quality affordable health care they can rely on. For Americans who get coverage through their job but can't afford it, the exchange will give them new choices. For small business owners, the exchange will level the playing field with big businesses and lower their costs." |
|
"Allow individuals, small businesses, and trade associations to pool together" to purchase health insurance. |
House & Senate: Co-ops established and "strip insurance companies" of the "antitrust exemption that has been in place since World War I." |
White House Plan: "The proposal creates a new insurance marketplace that lets individuals and families without coverage and small business owners pool their resources and increase their buying power to make insurance more affordable." |
|
Allow states "to create their own innovative reforms that lower health care costs." |
Senate: Section 1302, "the Waiver for State Innovation," actually "gives states the power to junk" the health care bill "if they can do it better and cheaper." |
White House Plan: "State Innovation Incentives to Improve Care - States will have the option to undertake a number of reforms to improve the quality of how care is delivered." |
|
"End junk lawsuits." |
Senate: Section 6801 "encourages states to develop new malpractice systems and suggests that Congress fund the most promising experiments." |
White House Plan: "Medical Malpractice Demonstration Grants - The Act establishes a competitive grant program for States to develop, implement, and evaluate innovative medical malpractice reforms that help resolve disputes over injuries allegedly caused by health care providers or organizations and promote a reduction in health care errors." |
Not to mention the other basic ideas that both parties agree on: wellness and prevention, allowing children to remain on their parents' plan until their mid-20s, providing tax credits to small businesses in order to make it easier for them to provide health coverage for their employees, and reducing "waste, fraud and abuse in federal healthcare programs." Even the Wall Street Journal acknowledges that many Republican ideas are included in Democratic legislation.
Yes, there are a variety of Republican health care reform bills floating around Congress. But not one of them has gone through the rigorous committee and floor process the Democratic bills have endured. Additionally, independent analysts aren't fooled by the language. Reports indicate that the GOP plan would leave millions of Americans uninsured, allows insurance companies to deny coverage, and increases premiums for sick Americans. Not exactly the comprehensive reforms the system needs.
None of the GOP-sponsored reform plans stand up to the Democratic proposals on the table. Progressive legislation lowers premiums while improving coverage, provides more protection without big changes to those on large employer-based plans, will reduce the deficit by billions of dollars, AND could create as many as 400,000 American jobs.
This summit is the (televised!) opportunity for Republicans and Democrats to hash out a final reform bill. And, whether Republicans like it or not, Democrats have the majority. Which means that a majority of Americans put them in office to pursue progressive policies - and with a majority of Americans supporting Democratic reform proposals, the GOP has a duty to the country to put this nonsense aside and pass the reform America so desperately needs.
