At equilibrium, the political support for health care reform exists

By Money Matters Editors

Political scientists and public policy types have this phrase they use to describe the temperature for public policy during normal times: ‘at equilibrium.’

Ignoring for the moment that nothing economic or political since the onset of the financial crisis can be considered ‘at equilibrium,’ the phrase describes a political condition on the ground in Washington when there isn’t a crisis, a gaff, a major mistake, an international event, a point of fear/hysteria, or some other idiosyncratic event that can hinder (or help) a policy's chance for passage. And in case one hasn’t noticed, there are a lot events that can distort equilibrium in Washington, and the health care reform debate is a good case study.

Obama's speech reinvigorates health care debate

By Money Matters Editors

 President Barack Obama, D-Illinois, did indeed restructure the debate Wednesday on health care reform, in a substantive, succinct, upbeat speech that could very well lead to solving one of the biggest economic problems facing the nation.

Obama’s task now is to: 1) lure House Democrats without losing Senate Democrats on concerns that a possible public option will be too expensive, and 2) lure Senate Democrats, without losing House Democrats on concern that the new health care program will not incorporate as many working uninsured poor individuals and families soon enough. If Obama garners one or two Republican Senate votes for the administration’s reform package, that would be a major victory. Don’t look for any House Republicans to support any reform legislation: if the Republican Party is ‘the party of no,’ the House Republicans are 'the captains.'