William E. Gibson, who has been covering Washington for the Sun-Sentinel for nearly 25 years, writes on politics and policies that affect South Floridians. ...
Hoping to fulfill a long-standing personal dream, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz introduced a bill in the House today to require health-care coverage for all Americans. Wasserman Schultz The ``Healthy Americans Act’’ is supported by some members of both parties and would pay for itself, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The same bill has been introduced in the Senate. This session of Congress is unlikely to agree on any transformation of the health-care system amid an election year when partisan politics make sweeping reforms nearly impossible to enact. Nevertheless, the bill provides a rallying point for Wasserman Schultz, a Democrat from Weston, and others intent on covering all Americans. It stands a better chance of clearing Congress next year, particularly if Democrat Barack Obama, who has proposed his own version of universal coverage, is elected president. Wasserman Schultz unveiled the bill at a press conference with fellow sponsor Jo Ann Emerson, a Republican from Missouri, who called it ``an important starting point in the discussion of a complete and long-term overhaul of the American health-care system.’’ The bill would replace the employer-based insurance system with government-regulated plans that consumers would buy on their own. Employers who now insure workers would be required to raise their workers’ pay by the same amount they have spent to insure them. Individuals would use this windfall to ...
Anytime
Hoping to fulfill a long-standing personal dream, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz introduced a bill in the House today to require health-care coverage for all Americans. Wasserman Schultz The ``Healthy Americans Act’’ is supported by some members of both parties and would pay for itself, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The same bill has been introduced in the Senate. This session of Congress is unlikely to agree on any transformation of the health-care system amid an election year when partisan politics make sweeping reforms nearly impossible to enact. Nevertheless, the bill provides a rallying point for Wasserman Schultz, a Democrat from Weston, and others intent on covering all Americans. It stands a better chance of clearing Congress next year, particularly if Democrat Barack Obama, who has proposed his own version of universal coverage, is elected president. Wasserman Schultz unveiled the bill at a press conference with fellow sponsor Jo Ann Emerson, a Republican from Missouri, who called it ``an important starting point in the discussion of a complete and long-term overhaul of the American health-care system.’’ The bill would replace the employer-based insurance system with government-regulated plans that consumers would buy on their own. Employers who now insure workers would be required to raise their workers’ pay by the same amount they have spent to insure them. Individuals would use this windfall to ...