Never mind the five week delay in work in health care reform legislation over the Congressional summer recess, the real problem will emerge in the conference committee when House and Senate versions of the measure will have to be reconciled. It looks like the Senate could pass a version missing most of the heart and soul of the current House bill: no employer mandate, no public option, and a "luxury tax" of up to 35% on health insurance plans costing more than $25,000 per year in premiums.
The real struggle, Congressman and Senators at home in their Districts over the long summer recess will learn first hand from their constituents, will be convincing the large majority of the electorate, generally satisfied with their current doctors and their present health insurance plans, that the new law will not take anything away from them while it spends a trillion dollars over the next ten years extending coverage to 40 million people who do not have any insurance now.
The real struggle, Congressman and Senators at home in their Districts over the long summer recess will learn first hand from their constituents, will be convincing the large majority of the electorate, generally satisfied with their current doctors and their present health insurance plans, that the new law will not take anything away from them while it spends a trillion dollars over the next ten years extending coverage to 40 million people who do not have any insurance now.
