Legal Commentary

CBO: Wyden's Exchanges As Useless As Conrad's Co-ops

By Big Tent Democrat

Ezra Klein billed Sen Ron Wyden's exchange concept as "the idea that could save health care reform." Unfortunately for Ezra, who buries the lede, the CBO says it does virtually nothing:

Relative to the Chairman’s mark, the amendment as modeled would reduce the net impact on federal deficits by about $1 billion over 10 years. There would not be substantial effects on the total number of people with insurance coverage or the sources of that coverage, relative to the Chairman’s mark.

(Emphasis supplied.) So, this is the "reform" you have been waiting for. The one that does nothing. Of course, Ezra could take a page from Kent Conrad and ignore the CBO's findings when he does not liek them. Hurray for the JournOList!!

Speaking for me only

Full post as published by TalkLeft on September 22, 2009 (boomark / email).