Brief Health Care Brawl: All or Nothing Doesn't Work
C. Eugene Steuerle
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The ongoing debate over health reform at times almost appears like a sporting event, with Democrats and Republicans trying to name winners and losers in passing or repealing legislation. But in my Fiscal Times op-ed this week, I explain why, when it comes to health reform, this winner-take-all mentality misses a major point: government programs, whether well designed or poorly designed, need to work within budget constraints. While such constraints inevitably identify losers relative to an open-ended budget (which, like deficits, can hide the losers), they do lead to far better budget and health policy.
Primary topic Federal Budget and Economy
Research Area Current legislative proposals Economic effects of tax policy Health care