Thursday, December 24, 2009

They Labored Mightily, and Brought Forth a Mouse

Maybe it will be better than it looks but it looks like a Christmas present for big pharma and big insurance. Maybe the conference committee will cobble together an improvement. But, at first glance, it looks like the Senate put a great deal of effort into a health care reform bill that will do very little for the millions who need help most.
A mountain was in labor, sending forth dreadful groans, and there was in the region the highest expectation. After all, it brought forth a mouse. ~ Phaedrus (Roman writer, first cent. AD)

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I'm curious about the context of the Phraedus quote. Congress has never had a good reputation for getting things done, even when it was the Continental Congress (if the opinions of John Adams are an indicator).

The health care reform (a.k.a insurance reform) bill is a perfect example of legislative "sausage" being made -- and the intense desire of Republicans to see it fail.

Still ain't a done deal. On to the mysteries of reconciliation and the final attempts by Republicans to have nothing pass. It IS all about winning or losing, after all.

I'm glad Alaska has one Democratic senator.

Happy Yule from the far north.