Legal Commentary

The Exchange Is Not Worth The Stupak Amendment

By Big Tent Democrat

Will the Village Wonk bloggers try and explain why a progressive should not accept the removal of the Exchange from the health care "reform" bill in order to avoid the consequences of Ben Nelson and Bart Stupak's insistence on the Stupak Amendment? So quick to jettison the public option, will they be as eager to say good bye to the Exchange? Ben Nelson makes the question a pressing one:

The defeat of his amendment would be politically significant because Nelson has pledged to vote with Republicans to filibuster the health bill if it did not include the Stupak language. [. . .] Stupak’s measure would restrict women who receive federal subsidies from buying abortion coverage on insurance exchanges set up by the government.

Remove the Exchange and the Stupak Amendment has no reason to exist. Who will stand in the way of this "practical" and "pragmatic" solution? After all, the Exchange is so limited as to be "meaningless," even if you believe in its magic "reform" powers. I call on the Village Wonk bloggers to be grownups about this - let go of the Exchange.

Speaking for me only

Full post as published by TalkLeft on December 04, 2009 (boomark / email).