A Common Path to Tread?

Nothing much changed outwardly on the politics of passing health care reform. Arnold and Nunez are still being optimistic. Perata is Eeyore and is feeding right into the Republican's talking points, that we should go for little fixes instead of comprehensive reform.

John Meyers and Anthony Wright have been playing off of each other in the blogs today, with an interesting theory by Meyers that the negotiations may be proceeding like AB 32 did. Meyers:

The narrative making its way through the Capitol this week is that the debate over health care reform, now down to the final days on the legislative calendar, has parallels to another last-minute deal struck in Sacramento.

The question is... which one?

Some say just look at last year's global warming law, AB 32, and you'll see how good things can happen as a result of last-minute negotiations. Others, though, say look at 1996's energy deregulation fiasco, and you'll see how bad things can happen in the final hours.

Anthony notes that there is a lot of similarities between the two sides.

In the world of policy, I see two plans that are more similar than different. They both include:
* a major expansion of coverage for more than two-thirds of the state's uninsured
* a minimum employer contribution toward health care
* a requirement on most individuals to take up health coverage from employers
* major eligibility expansion of public insurance programs for children and parents
* significant streamlining of public insurance programs to maximize enrollment
* significant draw-down of federal Medicaid funds
* new use of federal and state tax breaks, though Section 125 plans, for health coverage
* limits on insurers denying people because of pre-existing conditions
* a minimum requirement on insurers to spend 85% of premium dollars on patient care
* various cost containment efforts, such as on information technology and disease management

In some cases, the proposals are very similar, if not the same. There are differences on some key details. And they matter, a lot. But looking at the policy, it's hard to come away with the notion that a deal isn't just possible, it's likely.

He contends that since health care has been a major policy discussion for five years, the issues are well known and thus the politics take a primary role. He is correct. Everyone is very well versed on the issue. This is the crunch time to see if they can find a way to a common path.