Legal Commentary

Harkin: Health Bill A "Starter House"

By Big Tent Democrat

Tom Harkin on the health biil:

“What we are buying here is a modest home, not a mansion. What we are getting here is a starter home.

In an important way, this is quite helpful. One of the more frustrating aspects of the debate this past week was the attempt to sell the Senate bill is a great piece of progressive legislation. It simply is not. It is not only modest in it attempts at reform, it is flawed politically and in terms of policy. If you believe it is a start on reform, and I do not, then do not oversell it as the end. Understand that you have NOT solved the problem. Acknowledge that you have not solved the problem. And most importantly, PROMISE to keep working on the problem. Harkin strikes the right tone.

Speaking for me only

Full post as published by TalkLeft on December 19, 2009 (boomark / email).