Comments on: The WonkLine: June 11, 2009

By: stateofthedivision

stateofthedivision — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:07:48 +0000

It doesn’t matter what comes out of the House, it’s what comes out of conference. I fully expect Nancy’s public option to be redefined to benefit private insurers in the final bill.

Expect lots of political theater and Emanuel/Axelrod dis-in-genuine buzz words.

By: stateofthedivision

stateofthedivision — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:59:56 +0000

The small business coverage plan utilizes the very thing Msx Baucus cited as distorting, employer tax benefits.

This Congress can’t create a consistent line for the public. The one that explains many proposed changes, Obama health reform greases the skids for employers to shed that pesky health insurance benefit.

By: stateofthedivision

stateofthedivision — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:39:08 +0000

Yes, most of the Senate Finance Committee is tainted by health care money and have staff/family ties to health industry. It’s the Government-Industrial Monstrosity.

Address Snowe, but don’t forget Baucus, Conrad, Bayh, etc.

By: stateofthedivision

stateofthedivision — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:35:02 +0000

“Tighten scrutiny” on peak shearing? He campaigned to eliminate the practice.

A progressive website would be up in arms.

By: stateofthedivision

stateofthedivision — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:26:13 +0000

Robert Reich’s column is worth the read:

The Great Debt Scare: Why Has It Returned?

It’s the kind of thing I expect to hear from deficit hawks and chicken littles — from the self-described “fiscally responsible” right, from the scolds Ross Perot and Pete Peterson, from my former cabinet colleague Bob Rubin. But yesterday I was shown slides developed by the putatively liberal Center for American Progress intended to make the point. And today’s front page story in the New York Times, by the eminent David Leonhardt, entitled “Sea of Red Ink: How It Spread From A Puddle,” puts the issue right before our progressive noses, so to speak.

The Great Debt Scare is back.

http://robertreich.blogspot.com/2009/06/great-debt-scare-why-has-it-returned.html