Some Republicans argue that the recently signed health care reform package is unconstitutional. This strikes me as a dangerous argument. Suppose Republicans succeed. Suppose that the Supreme Court starts striking down all health plans — both Democratic and Republican plans. That would render the problem unsolvable. There are 45 million uninsured and that problem has to be addressed. We can’t just go around striking down all health plans and rendering the problem unsolvable.
45,000 people a year die due to lack of health coverage. Thousands go bankrupt. As costs and unemployment go up, more and more companies are going to drop health coverage for their employees. Thus far, Republicans are proposing tiny solutions that will insure very few additional people. Tort reform would be good, but that won’t solve all of our problems.
Mitt Romney has signed more substantial legislation in Massachusetts, but on the national front, he has fallen in line with other Republicans. I don’t know why — maybe he is planning to run for President again.