Healthcare reform and the upcoming elections

Health care reform


In a recent article titled “Health care and the mid-term elections”, The Economist discusses the role the Health care reform will play on the upcoming mid-term election in the U.S. Many people are in favor of parts of the reform such as the one that stops insurers from excluding those with pre-existing condition from coverage but some are wary of parts such as the “individual mandate” option that requires everyone to carry health insurance.
This uncertainty regarding the individual mandate and the other unpopular pieces of the reform is a “useful weapon” for the Republicans in the campaign. The article goes on to say that, most of the democrats running are “staying mum and are not apologizing for their votes for the reform, whilst the Republicans are vocal.

Not only are the Republicans vocal about their disdain for the reform they can do whatever they can except repeal (can be vetoed by the president) to stop the law. They could not fund the program, which will prevent agency from administering it, they could attach a vital bill (a common practice by both parties) to the law, which will forbid its implementation, and they can just not implement the programs. Already, as I reported last week, 20 states have been given approval to precede their lawsuit charging that the reform is unconstitutional.
http://www.economist.com/node/17259055