Is Fleming's Resolution a "Lame Idea"?

And So it Goes in Shreveport ^ | 07/16/2009 | Pat Austin

[paustin110]

Congressman John Fleming (R-LA) is getting a lot of notice right now partly because of his Resolution to Congress that they also sign on for whatever health care proposal they force on to the rest of us.

Politico reports that "Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Tom Coburn of Oklahoma are pushing the same concept in the Senate, preparing separate amendments that would require members — and maybe even their staffs — to sign up for the public option." Newt Gingrich is also promoting it.

The New Republic calls Fleming's resolution a "lame idea": "This is, of course, a rather lame idea: the point of creating a public plan is to make it an option that exists alongside private insurance. This is about expanding choice in health insurance coverage. Nobody would be forced to join the public option."

[NewJerseyJoe]

Not only is it not a lame idea, it is long overdue -- and not just for this socialist bill. It should apply to ALL laws, and --

-- it needs to be part of the GOP platform for the next election.

[mak5]

Oh, really, no one would be forced to join the public option? How about this: http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=332548165656854 ?

[mak5]

By the way, this is the relevant portion of the linked editorial:

The provision would indeed outlaw individual private coverage. Under the Orwellian header of "Protecting The Choice To Keep Current Coverage," the "Limitation On New Enrollment" section of the bill clearly states: "Except as provided in this paragraph, the individual health insurance issuer offering such coverage does not enroll any individual in such coverage if the first effective date of coverage is on or after the first day" of the year the legislation becomes law. So we can all keep our coverage, just as promised — with, of course, exceptions: Those who currently have private individual coverage won't be able to change it. Nor will those who leave a company to work for themselves be free to buy individual plans from private carriers.

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Or maybe they should wave their magic wand and provide us mere citizens with every perk they have (health care, retirement, school choice, etc...)

[green pastures]

They are not “forced” to join. They can vote against it if they don’t want to join.

I think its a wonderful idea, and one I’ve suggested when discussions about health care plans and congress arise.

Here’s another idea. Before they can vote on a bill, they have to attest to having read it in its entirety. If they haven’t read it before the vote, then they can’t vote on it. But I suppose that’s “lame” too...