Senator Harry Reid said today that the health care reform bill he’ll take to the floor of the senate will have a public option, but one that’ll let individual states opt out of if they so choose. Now this seems like a good idea, and it should get more senators to vote for it. But there’s a couple of points I haven’t heard anything about yet . . .
First, who in each state will decide whether to opt in or opt out?
I suppose it would be the governors after conferring with their house and senate leaders, but I sure would like to see it brought to ballot at some point or another. If the states have to opt in at first, like some are proposing, then that would give them plenty of time to allow the people to vote on it.
Sure the senators have said they’re basing their voting decision on their constituents, but that’s what they say. Who knows which one they’ve talked to, and how much money they’ve been paid to hear these people’s opinions? So bringing it to the people is the fairest way to go.
Secondly, if a state decides to opt out, can they change back later on?
I live in a state where, from time to time, we get a Republican governor. If one was in office when the decision was to be made, I know a lot of people around here would be mightily furious. There should be a way of turning back any decision that wasn’t actually brought to a general vote.
Hopefully these questions will be answered soon.
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