Photo: Matt A.J. via Flickr
Political party platforms get a spurt of attention in the summer of the respective party conventions – and then more or less disappear for four years. But it is worth taking a look at the documents because they do sum up the mindset. Today we’ll start out with the Republican Party’s official take on a variety of health care issues.
The two party’s platforms’ actual language – choice of words, phrases and emphasis – is enlightening. Continue reading
House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.)
The House Republicans have released an Obamacare replacement plan – though it’s sparse on details. That’s partly because the Republicans themselves don’t agree on all the specifics – and it’s partly because politically it doesn’t really behoove them to put out all the details and let Democrats shoot it down between now and November.
Most of the ideas you’ve heard before – high-risk pools ($25 billion for that over 10 years, one of the few specifics in the GOP white paper), tax credits, tax-favored health savings accounts, the ability to buy insurance across state lines (which critics say undermine consumer protections). Continue reading
