As
anyone could have predicted weeks ago, the "alternative bill" Max
Baucus has presented is a complete and utter joke. But don't be mad, progressives. Be happy.
Before this piece of crap appeared, there was all sorts of speculation about
what an alternative might be. Talk of “co-ops” actually sounded like a feasible
idea to a lot of people. Now, however, they can see them and read about them,
and now, we can demonstrate that the alternative Blue Dog plan is, well, a dog.
If we play this right, we can make a strong reform plan with a robust public
option a reality.
First
of all, it looks like Baucus wrote the damn thing over a weekend. I’m not sure if
he drinks. The markup paraphrases current law, and recommends changes to that
law. It seems kind of strange that he’s been making so much noise for so long,
and ends up creating something so basic. And frankly, he has to be high if he
thinks most of this crap will fly. In fact, he had to be giggling to himself at
the mere prospect that Republican Senators would climb on board. If he truly
thinks this is a “compromise” that Senate Republicans will go for, he’s
delusional. His legislative aides must have been asking "Are you
high?" repeatedly as they were reading the drafts.
Most
of the provisions in this markup mimic HR 3200 and the other bills out there,
which means there's little revolutionary about this garbage. But many of the
additional provisions are laughable. It is such a pander to health insurance
companies, it makes me I've rarely seen such a wink and a smile to a major
industry. Most politicians at least attempt to make their kowtow a little
subtler.
I
actually find it hard to believe that an experienced politician like Max Baucus
actually believes his own BS. He has to know this simply won't fly, and his
ham-handed approach to "compromise" virtually guarantees its failure.
Here
are some of the highlights. Here's the Baucus Markup, if you'd like to read along: