universal healthcare

[kandrathe]

I think you're 100% correct. Most of the people I've talked to don't like the plan, not because it goes too far but because it doesn't go far enough -- even as a first step. The last thing most of them want is to nullify that first step and put us back to zero. If he pushes it, he might not even last out this turn.

I don't think the entire Act gets nullified if one provision is found unconstitutional. Congress just wouldn't be able to use the IRS to penalize citizens who refuse to buy health insurance. I heard today that the Ways and Means Committee has estimated the cost to add this enforcement arm to the IRS would cost an additional 5 billion dollars per year (unfunded), and result in hiring about 16,000 enforcement agents (added to their staff of 101,054). Yay! More government jobs!