By GottaLaff
Many of you already knew about this, but I must do my duty, begrudgingly, and report the following:
A proposed health-care bill sent by the powerful chairman of the Senate Finance Committee to key Senate negotiators Saturday night does not include a government-run insurance plan, a source close to the discussions told CNN Monday.While the proposal excludes a so-called "public option," it would allow for the creation of non-profit health care cooperatives — an idea which some moderate Democrats and Republicans have expressed possible interest in supporting.
The bill would cost less than $900 billion over ten years, according to the source.
It would be paid for, in part, by a new tax on health insurance companies that provide high-end "Cadillac" insurance plans, the source added.
Supporters of such a tax say will it help curb the cost of health care by discouraging employers from offering such plans. They also argue that consumers, in turn, will be discouraged from overusing the health care system.
Critics claim the new tax will cause insurance companies to raise rates on all of their customers, even those without more expensive plans.
Deep breathing exercises come in handy right about now. I am waiting for the Big Speech. I am repeating that to myself over and over... waiting... waiting...
Note to readers: I'll put up an interactive liveblog open thread for you to comment on before, during and after the speech.
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