Bfgrn
Gold Member
- Apr 4, 2009
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In 1993, at the height of President Bill Clinton's health care reform initiative, Sen. John Chafee, R-R.I., along with 19 other Republicans and two Democrats, put forth a bill which was considered the major GOP proposal. One of the co-sponsors was then-Sen. Dave Durenberger, R-Minn. The bill, just like the Democratic version, never passed. But in a sense, it's been revived this year.
In fact, the key provisions in the Chafee bill may seem familiar, as they bear a strong resemblance to those in the current Democratic Senate bill, and now in President Barack Obama's proposal.
1) A mandate that individuals buy insurance
2) Subsidies for the poor to buy insurance
3) Requirement that insurers offer a standard benefits package
4) Refrain from discriminating based on pre-existing conditions
Durenberger says the reason many of these ideas have been shunned by today's Republicans, even called unconstitutional by some, is that political times have changed. The main thing thats changed is the definition of a Republican, he said.
The Democrats' 2010 Health Reform Plan Evokes 1993 Republican Bill - Kaiser Health News
In fact, the key provisions in the Chafee bill may seem familiar, as they bear a strong resemblance to those in the current Democratic Senate bill, and now in President Barack Obama's proposal.
1) A mandate that individuals buy insurance
2) Subsidies for the poor to buy insurance
3) Requirement that insurers offer a standard benefits package
4) Refrain from discriminating based on pre-existing conditions
Durenberger says the reason many of these ideas have been shunned by today's Republicans, even called unconstitutional by some, is that political times have changed. The main thing thats changed is the definition of a Republican, he said.
The Democrats' 2010 Health Reform Plan Evokes 1993 Republican Bill - Kaiser Health News