Thursday, August 06, 2009

Senate Deal: Change a Few Names | Michael D. Tanner | Cato Institute: Commentary

Senate Deal: Change a Few Names | Michael D. Tanner | Cato Institute: Commentary: "The proposed bill is forthright on still containing many of the worst aspects of ObamaCare. It would mandate that all Americans buy insurance — and not just any insurance, but a specific government-designed set of benefits, even if that package was more expensive or contained benefits that you didn't want."

"The compromise would have no specific mandate for employers to provide insurance. But any employer who failed to do so would have to pay the cost of all subsidies that the government provides his or her workers to help them pay for insurance on their own.

It is hard to see how this is different from any other employer mandate — except that it will hurt low-wage workers most."

"It will ultimately be the worker who pays the subsidy's cost. The government will be giving the worker a subsidy with one hand, and taking it back with the other. Does that make sense for any reason other than 'compromise?'"

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