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Maybe Baucus Bill Is Better Than Nothing

David Brooks wishes Congress had listened to Ron Wyden

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 9, 2009 7:41 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Even David Brooks has become convinced that the health care system needs a fundamental overhaul—and unfortunately, it’s not going to get one. The best option, Democrat Ron Wyden’s proposal to let employees take their employer’s contribution and spend it on an open health care exchange, was killed in committee, thanks to insurance company pressure.  That means we’re going to get “health insurance reform, not health care reform,” writes the New York Times conservative.

It’s tempting, then to “throw up our hands and oppose everything,” he writes. “But that’s not what adulthood is about.” Adults have to hold their nose and consider the Baucus bill. It's a clunker that entrenches a flawed system, retards innovation, and redistributes income from the young to the old—but it might be better than nothing. “If I were in Congress,” he muses, I’d “get engaged as a provisional supporter to fight to make it better.”

Max Baucus, D-Mont. gestures on Capitol Hill, Oct. 1, 2009.
Max Baucus, D-Mont. gestures on Capitol Hill, Oct. 1, 2009.   (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg, FILE)
If only they'd listened to Ron Wyden.
If only they'd listened to Ron Wyden.   (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont. smiles as he arrives at his office on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont. smiles as he arrives at his office on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009.   (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont. enters an elevator on Capitol Hill, Oct. 8, 2009.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont. enters an elevator on Capitol Hill, Oct. 8, 2009.   (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 7 comments
George_Taylor
Oct 10, 2009 2:05 AM CDT
The insurance companies have tons of money to spend influencing the political parties!?!
Loafer
Oct 10, 2009 1:44 AM CDT
We need to see what Reid cobbles together from the two bills Senate committees have produced. The HELP committee included a decent Public Option, but Baucus didn't. If Reid sends a combined bill that does NOT include a public option, I hope all Democrat Senators vote against it.
Jeebus
Oct 9, 2009 8:07 AM CDT
It's really simple, either the bill covers everybody, or it covers nobody. If people remain uncovered, who decides who isn't covered? Death panels?

 
health care reform • Max Baucus • David Brooks • Ron Wyden • health insurance exchange

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