Yesterday I spoke with Republican Rep. John Shadegg. Today, he announced his retirement. I've got to try that trick more often!
Anyway, Shadegg is not one of the dumb ones and notwithstanding his retirement, I have a feeling his political future will work out pretty nicely for him. He's that sharp.
Anyway, I've been thinking that if Democrats pass anything like the Senate's version of health care reform, the Democratic brand will suffer horribly. You simply cannot have a mandate without a public option. The idea that people will have to turn over nearly 10% of their income to a private insurance company isn't something that is going to sink in until people start seeing it happen in real time. And then, when these insurance companies deny claims... well, the federal government (Democrats) will be seen as the accomplice and handmaiden to the private insurance rip-off industry.
With things so bad, I've begun to believe that Republicans must secretly be hoping this thing passes with as much of the Senate language intact as possible. That's what I asked about.
Shadegg confirmed my worst fears. Republicans can't wait to get started.
Transcript (from Jane):
SHADEGG: I don’t understand either bill. Both the House and Senate bills contain mandates that compel, or would compel you and I as individual Americans to buy insurance from Americas private insurance industry. I think America’s private insurance industry is the problem...
STARK: So are you for a public option?
SHADDEG: Well, you could better defend a public option than you could defend compelling me to buy a product from the people that have created the problem. America’s health insurance industry has wanted this bill and the individual mandate from the get go. That’s their idea. Their idea is "look, our product is so lousy, that lots of people don’t buy it. So we need the government to force people to buy our product. And stunningly, that’s what the Congress appears to be going along with. Why would they do that?
STARK: Congressman, you’re making the progressive argument here.
SHADDEG: I’m with the progressives on this one! The notion ... I mean, I completely agree with my progressive friends here. The notion of forcing Americans to buy a product they don’t want to buy from companies that aren’t doing it right right now is goofy.
...
Making the IRS the bill collector for Aetna and the rest of America’s insurance companies...Blue Cross/Blue Shield and United... isn’t the way to do it.
Democrats: you've been warned.