At the AFP Town Hall to watch the president’s address to Congress. Will take part in a discussion after.
8:14 As much as anything, I worry that the president eventually opts for “a bill.” He’ll give up the public option, throw a bone on tort reform and take some version of the Baucus gift to Big Insurance, Big Pharma, Big Hospital, and the others sitting at the table. Patients and taxpayers will end up on the menu.
8:16 Did the president delay so folks at here would give up and go home?
8:19 Government pulled the economy back from the brink?
8:21 North Carolina mental health reform shows that there is no end to comprehensive reforms. Regardless what passes, if anything, more presidents will need to reform Obama’s reforms.
8:25 Still waiting for the president to say something new. How often do we have to shoot down his tired stories?
8:28 Obama claims bills will build on what works. House bill is government takeover. Baucus bill is even worse.
8:30 Details? Really?
8:33 Tired line about keeping insurance that nobody believes anymore. Cap on out of pocket expenses (no more HSAs). No cap on annual or lifetime benefits. Preventive screenings and doctor visits. All of this makes insurance more expensive.
8:34 National exchange with government limits on what counts as care means your insurance doesn’t count. Convenient timing to wait until 2013 for the exchange to kick in.
8:37 Michael Cannon at Cato “Translation: My health plan cannot work if you are free to make your own decisions.”
8:47 I’m done. He’s made this speech many many times before.
I’ll also be posting on Twitter.
