Go Wyden Go!
What If They Passed Single-Payer and Didn't Tell Anyone? - WashingtonPost.com:
The Wyden folks quietly slipped in an amendment giving states enormous flexibility to experiment upward. Essentially, states can ask the federal government for a waiver that allows them to keep the federal funds they're receiving and do pretty much anything they want with them, so long as the coverage they provide is "at least as comprehensive as required under the Chairman’s Mark" . . . .If we don't end up with a public option at the federal level, at least have the ability for states to broaden the public participation in the system. The states are often considered, and allowed to be, crucibles of experimentation for policies like this. It's got the potential to do some real good.
This comment may not be appropriate to the post, except to this extent. There are few who contend that State Sponsored insurance pools will have sufficient muscle to provide adequate competition to the insurance companies to keep costs down. Now that the CBO report is available, the Senate Bill will cover only 91% leaving 20 + million uninsured; likey those who are healthy and don't perceive the need for insurance. Without the competition provided by the Public Option, premium costs will likely go up for everyone. The Bill still takes close to 400 billion from medicare to pay the largest portion of its 800+Billion total costs. May I say in the strongest terms - I don't want this bill to pass!
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