Here in Michigan we are heading towards a similar scenario. Our GOP Governor Rock Snyder (who is a reasonable guy) has been pushing to get out ahead of this and start setting up the exchange, but the GOP legislature hasn't done a thing. Now they are signaling that they want to wait until after the November election before they decide if they will do anything. To borrow a phrase from my grandfather: the Michigan legislature is as useful as tits on a bull. IMO there is a real chance that the GOP is going to lose seats over this. It's wishful thinking of the GOP that not only will Romney win, but that he will have a House and Senate willing to throw the Affordable Care Act out. There comes a point where you just need to shut up and govern.
The only real issue that die-hard tea partiers might still bitch about would be the fact that the government will help pay the costs of insurance depending on income relative to poverty level. But the way I see it, working taxpayers are going to subsidize the uninsured and the very sick one way or another. We may as well do it in a way that's more transparent, more direct, and confers more benefits to us.
- working taxpayers are going to subsidize the uninsured and the very sick one way or another. We may as well do it in a way that's more transparent, more direct, and confers more benefits to us.
The cap at 20%, do you if that is net or gross profit? If it's net, I'd say that's pretty damned good. It's also something that is likely easily manipulated, especially at the net level.