( continues...)

hospitals and other safety net providers by $3.9 billion over the next five years (Rutenberg/Pear, New York Times, 1/23). The proposal is designed to give states incentives to develop plans to expand health insurance coverage (Los Angeles Times, 1/23). The state plans would be required to define which residents need coverage, outline a basic health insurance policy and establish a subsidy that would help uninsured residents obtain coverage, Leavitt said (Carey, CQ HealthBeat, 1/22). Leavitt said Bush "wants to partner with states," adding that he expects at least 12 states to propose health insurance reforms this year (Los Angeles Times, 1/23). Leavitt added, "We want to be able to redirect federal payments away from institutions and to needy individuals. Rather than perpetually paying bills for the uninsured, it's better to help them buy health insurance." Debbie Bachrach, a deputy commissioner in the New York State Health Department, said the funding cuts would affect hospitals that "serve some of the lowest-income, most vulnerable patients" (New York Times, 1/23).

ACK! I edited, right away. I swear.

I started to write it out "ita, megan, sumi," and then realized I was quoting back you, and wanted to have it in the right order, because I'm like that, and well.

I was thinking of it more as a superhero name, though.

What's the correct emoticon for eye's bugging out of your head?

I like o.O

ARGH! The board ate most of my post! What happened?

It separated it into three posts...

The message: too many businesses of all sizes aren't committed to providing insurance coverage regardless of cost. A tax increase would increase the number of uninsured people more than it would offset that number. Also, the hospitals dependent on the federal uncompensated care dollars that Bush is going to propose giving to states will simply reduce their charity care, meaning that uninsured people will have fewer places to turn for health care service.

Finally, federal poverty level for individuals in 2006 was $9600 and for a family of four was $20K. Either way, the $360/mo. number Cindy mentioned for up to 3x FPL sounds terrifying.

It separated it into three posts...

No, I mean my overlong follow-up. When I clicked Post, it came up truncated.

No, I mean my overlong follow-up. When I clicked Post, it came up truncated.

Oh, that's just weird, then.

Increase taxes AND increase the cost of health care and insurance. Another win-win for the Bush White House!

Seriously, can't imagine what they are thinking. They know this won't pass a Democratic Congress. I'd think they have something EEEEvil up their collective sleeves but actually it seems like they're consistently winning the war against minimal political competence.

I'd think they have something EEEEvil up their collective sleeves but actually it seems like they're consistently winning the war against minimal political competence.

That's kind of where I am with the Bush administration now. Instead of a wary, "What diabolical plan is this? I can't parse it at all. It must be ingenious" - now I think, "Sweet Zombie Jesus! They're constipated with stupidity."