Read the Bills? How about Reading the Constitution? | Gene Healy | Cato Institute: Commentary

Read the Bills? How about Reading the Constitution? | Gene Healy | Cato Institute: Commentary: "If congressmen can't be bothered to read a [campaign finance] law that directly affects them, should we be surprised that they're not planning to read the health care bill, which won't?"

Fannie, Freddie Mustn't Be Left Out Of Reform | Mark A. Calabria | Cato Institute: Commentary

Fannie, Freddie Mustn't Be Left Out Of Reform | Mark A. Calabria | Cato Institute: Commentary: "Ultimately, Fannie and Freddie were not bailed out in order to save our housing market; they were bailed out in order to protect the Chinese Central Bank from taking losses. Without the implicit federal guarantee of Fannie and Freddie, trillions of dollars of global capital flow would not have been funneled into the U.S. subprime mortgage market."

Welcome to the Health Care Free Lunch Cafe | Michael D. Tanner | Cato Institute: Commentary

Welcome to the Health Care Free Lunch Cafe | Michael D. Tanner | Cato Institute: Commentary: "At the core of the president's proposal is the idea that he can provide more health care services to more people and have it cost less. A neat trick – but one that flies in the face of economic reality, not to mention common sense.

For example, the president wants to require insurance companies to cover people with pre-existing conditions, that is, people who are already sick. Doing so will cost money. And where will that money come from? Insurance companies will simply raise premiums for the rest of us.

Similarly, the president would mandate that all insurance plans provide a new government-designed minimum benefits package. In addition to the usual coverage for hospitalization, physician services and so on, all insurance plans would also have to include coverage for prescription drugs, rehabilitation services, mental health and substance-abuse treatment; preventive services and maternity, well-baby, and well-child care, as well as dental, vision, and hearing services for children under age 21. If that's not enough, he would also establish a new federal commission headed by the surgeon general, which will have the power to develop additional minimum benefit requirements. There is no limit to how extensive those future required benefits may be."