Leading Health Care Experts Tell Senate To Step It Up

Fix and pass the damn bill ASAP. Harry Reid, who singlehandedly allowed his own party to turn health care reform (an issue that more than 65% of the population agreed needs reform) into a millstone hanging on the Democrat's neck, simply can't be trusted to lead the Democratic agenda in the Senate. We can't afford to allow him to start over again. He might be the most politically tone-deaf and naive Senate leader in the past 50 years.

In spite of Harry Reid's ineptitude and fecklessness, the threatened Republican filibuster can become the Democrats most potent weapon when the Democrats use it wisely.

Passing the health care bill doesn't win the game, it is the start of the game. A long, long game.

We are talking decades here folks. Decades.

First, the Democrats must complete the current health care reform legislation and send it to the President to sign. The key is to quickly pass something quantifiable so that we can re-start the public debate on health care reform based on the specific elements in that legislation. The existing legislation, for all its faults, contains an enormous number of changes that Americans want right now. In this instance perfection is the enemy of good enough.

Second, the President, in his State of the Union speech, should press forward on health insurance reform. The President should state that a key element in health insurance reform is competition: health insurance companies should be allowed to compete in a national market.

Third, the day following the Presidents speech Democrats in both the House and Senate should propose legislation that would strip the anti-trust exemption from the health insurance companies. This bill should be as simple as possible, should be posted on the House and Senate's websites for all citizen to review for 72 hours, and then immediately moved the floor (of the Senate first) for debate and vote.

A vast majority, a silent majority, of Americans want health insurance reform.

Right now.

There is one key point House Democrats must remember.

It is possible to argue whether or not the Senate's health care reform bill is a "winning" policy or political result for House Democrats. I grant you that.

However we all know that subsequent health care and health insurance reform legislation can be constructed to be be a devastating policy and political weapon to the advantage of the Democratic Party in both houses of Congress. For decades.

The Democrats must pass health care reform as quickly as possible. Passage of that legislation is the opportunity to begin the process of on-going health care and health insurance reform.

Think of it this way: once the Democratic party passes the legislation and the President signs it, what do the Republicans do? They are between a rock and a hard place. Do Republicans offer to revise it? Wonderful, we have a debate the Democrats can win. Do Republicans promise to repeal it? They'll be seen as protectors of the health care industry - checkmate.

When the Democrats introduce bills to require health insurance companies to compete nationally, what options do the Republicans have? Do the Republicans or blue dog Democrats dare to filibuster a bill to bring true national competition to the health insurance industry? This is a political death sentence for them. While the Republicans and blue dogs are filibustering this legislation every Democrat should be on national TV asking the public why the Republicans are opposed to free market capitalism. And the Democrats damn well better schedule this bill so that the filibuster begins before a long Congressional recess. During this long recess I want to see Republicans hold town halls and respond to their constituents questions as to why Republicans are against competition for the health insurance industry.

This one issue can change the complexion of the 2010 elections in a heartbeat.

The Republicans need to tread carefully here. And they know it.

Pass the bill.

It's a baby step but it's encouraging. Remember a few days ago when it looked like the House Democrats were ready to abandon ship altogether? Or when some of them thought now would be a good time to fight for the public option? Now they're ready to do something at the one yard line and the only question is how exactly that happens. It's annoying that it took them this long to realize the obvious path, but now they're getting it. Keep calling all your Congresscritters (even if they are Republicans. You can be sure Democrats get calls from teabaggers so it's only fair). This is going to happen.