In an email to the Huffington Post, Alex Conant, a former RNC press secretary and an adviser to possible 2012 candidate Tim Pawlenty, said that while Republicans will push their own health care reform agenda in upcoming elections, they also plan to run on a promise to nullify what Democrats are poised to pass.
“Republicans see last week’s health care vote as a top issue in the 2010 campaign,” wrote Conant. “As for the repeal, Republicans have a truck full of ideas on how to expand access, improve quality, and lower costs. I’m sure there will be some focus on repealing provisions of the Democrats’ plan, but the most pressing issue will likely be addressing health care costs and lowering the financial toll this bill will have on taxpayers. Republicans will certainly campaign on repealing $500 billion of tax increases for a bloated government-run health care.”
Republicans are denouncing this “sellout” as “government-run” health care because it kind of is. The bill essentially turns health insurance providers into public utilities. But that is not good enough because the public option isn’t in the bill now, even though we can pass one later. We should use reconciliation to push through a messy bill with a half-life now rather than pass a fair bill now and change it later.
I note the Democrats see fixing the bill this as a signature issue for future elections. While it might seem counterintuitive, it is nonetheless true because the GOP will be working for repeal. Progressives have every reason to want to see this bill succeed, even if it isn’t the most singularly progressive bill in American history.
