A Benefit to Partisanship

Ezra Klein is a must read here.  He points out that in 1993, President Clinton tried to reform healthcare against the uniform opposition of the pharmaceutical industry, hospital associations, American Medical Association, Health Insurance Association of America and major employers.  This time, some of these organizations are supporting the legislation, and none of these associations are actively opposing President Obama's plan.  

Imagine what these associations could have gotten if they could have recruited two or three Republicans.  On this bill, Republicans haven't been the party of business, or they would have helped business get some really great (for business) deals.  This legislation shows that the Republicans are far more committed to strong partisan incentives than they are to business.  This may be a case where bipartisanship would have weakened, rather than strengthened the final bill that is passed..  

American Medical Association Supports House Bill

The American Medical Association has, today, announced its qualified support for the current health reform bill pending before Congress.  

J. James Rohack, M.D., AMA president said:

"By extending health coverage to the vast majority of the uninsured, improving competition and choice in the insurance marketplace, promoting prevention and wellness, reducing administrative burdens, and promoting clinical comparative effectiveness research, this bill will help patients and their physicians."