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Republicans release their own health reform bill, using the free market to drive down costs
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Republican Leader John Boehner of Ohio, announces GOP bill
For months the Democrats have been arguing over their own competing versions of health care legislation with little official input from Republicans. While many high profile Republicans, such as Ron Paul, have offered specific points of opposition, and alternative ideas; there has been no “Republican bill” to serve as a foil or debate point against the Democrat bills. Now that Democrats have completed their final House bill, and set the vote for this week, the GOP has released their own bill and the differences are striking.
It is a basic philosophical difference between the right and the left that the left looks to the Government to solve problems and the right believes getting Government out of the way will make it easier for folks to solve their own problems. These philosophical differences are on display in the competing health care bills. The Democrat bill is over 1900 pages of tax increases, bureaucratic oversight, tweaks and adjustments to every segment of health care delivery in the United States at a cost of over a trillion dollars. The Democrat bill targets everything from vending machines to deli counters as potential public health issues. Democrats are even looking to study the effects of gun ownership on public health. It is little wonder there is another massive “tea party” like protest scheduled for Nov 5, 2009, at noon, on the steps of the capital. The Democrat bill clearly reflects their basic philosophical belief that “enlightened experts”, given broad powers, can efficiently “administer” large segments of American life.
The Republican draft bill, by contrast, is about 230 pages and starts from a completely different perspective. While the Democrats are still trying to find a way to expand coverage without overly increasing costs, the Republicans believe that by pushing down costs, coverage will naturally be expanded. The Republican bill brings together a series of proposals which have been floated by conservative and libertarian leaders over the past two years. These include capping malpractice awards, which should drive down costs for doctors, and allowing insurance companies to sell policies across state lines, expanding the market so it acts more like the auto insurance market. Their bill reflects a belief that Government intrusion has distorted market signals and allowed insurance companies, trial lawyers and professional associations to profit through Government assistance in a “mixed” market. Expanding consumer choice and removing Government imposed barricades will allow real competition to flourish, driving down costs for health care consumers.
This last point is the key to Republican proposals and could have a demonstrable effect on insurance coverage nationwide. In many states, it is impossible to purchase a high deductable or catastrophic plan. Forced to choose between an expensive comprehensive plan with coverage for things they may never need, and no coverage at all, many individuals opt to forgo coverage. If customers could choose from among the thousands of insurance policies offered around the country, they could shop around in a real marketplace for coverage which fits their needs, and their checkbooks.
The Republican proposal merits serious consideration by any persons intending to engage in a real debate concerning health care delivery in the United States. Unless the goal is a complete takeover of health care for purposes of controling the lives of individual citizens, there is no reason for Democrats to ignore Republican proposals. The Republican bill is a serious attempt to fix what is wrong with our system without eliminating the things that make it one of the best in the world.
The full text of the Republican draft bill can be read here.
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