Howard Dean was just on Olberman to talk about what a good idea it is to expand medicare, explaining that he had done just that in Vermont to get almost everyone covered. Over time he expanded this program and that one, and today Vermont is a model for the nation. Then Gene Robinson echoed him, pointing out that a watered down barely PO is less effective than the real thing, Medicare. The real PO number one, and number two, this would help a lot of folks.
Then Keith reported that it appears to be a deal, medicare eligibility will now begin at 55, but no PO.
I have to admit that part of my joy probably is because I turned 54 in September. But, I really do think the best path forward is expanding existing programs. Howard stated that he had his finger on the pulse of what was going on, and he was very excited about what he was hearing. The Bacus bill contained an expansion of medicaid too that has partially fallen by the wayside. Time to revive it, perhaps by off loading the extra expense from the States to the Federal government.
In addition, I think that allowing folks to buy into medicare starting at 55 is a huge political winner too because we are talking about letting baby-boomers into medicare. That's huge.
In addition, the idea of setting up a similar system for citizens that our politicians currently have access to seems to have survived too.
Update [2009-12-8 21:9:9 by PLS]: Senator Reid just reported to Reuters that the PO isn't dead according to Rachel Maddow. AP reports that it is dead.
Update [2009-12-8 21:9:9 by PLS]: Bernie Sanders tells Rachel Maddow that this maybe a good trade, because the PO had gotten so watered down. Sanders thinks that an expansion of Medicaid maybe included too. Calls it a "trade-off".