Socialized Medicine, State by State

"Every Democratic presidential candidate is proposing some kind of
scheme to move America toward socialized medicine, and the front
runner, Hillary Clinton, is poised to pursue a new version of her
infamous proposals for "Hillarycare."

But the greatest danger to a free market in medical care may not come
from the federal level. It may come from the state level, as
governors—following the lead of Republicans like Mitt Romney and
Arnold Schwarzenegger—compete with one another to create government-
controlled health-care systems, state by state."

Commentary by Robert Tracinski, editor www.TIADaily.com

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" Eyes on California as Lawmakers Pursue a Health-Care Deal ,"
Christopher Lee, Washington Post, August 27

California did not start the current wave of efforts to overhaul the
American health-care system, but what happens in Sacramento over the
next few weeks could have a big impact on whether the drive gains
momentum or peters out….

Smaller states took the first steps. Massachusetts last year passed a
law requiring all citizens to buy health insurance, and in recent
years Vermont and Maine approved legislation intended to dramatically
expand coverage to the uninsured, and Illinois made a priority of
covering more kids. In 1974, Hawaii became the first (and still only)
state to require that employers provide health insurance to their
workers.

Other states considering major proposals include Pennsylvania and
Wisconsin, while New Mexico, Colorado, Alaska and Minnesota are in
the fact-gathering stage, said Laura Tobler, a health-policy expert
at the National Conference of State Legislatures.

"If a breakthrough could occur in California, it would really be an
earthquake in terms of health reform," said Drew Altman, president of
the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonpartisan group that
researches health-care issues. "A lot turns on whether it succeeds or
fails.... Candidates will look at that when they decide how hard to
push this. The Congress in 2009 will look at it. It will affect the
whole psychology of the health reform movement that's building."

Schwarzenegger's plan—which would require everyone to have insurance;
would impose new fees on employers, doctors and hospitals; and would
subsidize coverage for those who couldn't afford it—has not made it
into legislation. Instead, the Democrats who control the legislature
fashioned their own bill. It differs in important ways from the
governor's plan and probably has enough support to pass—but the
governor said last week that he would veto it….

Business groups would almost certainly challenge any compromise on
the ground that the new employer "fee" is actually a tax and thus
requires a two-thirds vote of the legislature, said Vince Sollitto, a
spokesman for the California Chamber of Commerce.

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