Bob Dole Says it is Time for Obama to Lead

One of my favorite Republicans, Bob Dole, recently wrote an opinion piece in the Washington Post.   Dole said that the President Obama could go a long way toward moving the health-care debate forward, if he wrote up his health-care plan and gave that to Congress to work through.  Dole reminded us that our fundamental legislative philosophy is “the President proposes and Congress disposes.”   He says: “Once the president has staked out his position, which will provide room for amendments, the debate will narrow, and bipartisan bargaining and other political maneuvering can begin.  Here’s what Dole says Congress should do.”

The goal is to get a bill that most of congress can live with and still keep the private health-insurance companies in business.  Dole argues that the issue of preexisting conditions and universal coverage can be fixed without the public option or the coop which is being discussed now.  And he suggests that Congress go forward with those issues right away.   As far as keeping health-care costs down, Dole says give the private companies five years to do it on their own.  If private companies are unwilling or unable to do so in five years, Congress can enact some reforms. 

I think Dole is on to something.  I do agree that the issue of preexisting conditions and universal coverage are the most important issues.  However, I don’t trust the private (for profit) insurance companies to make any real effort to cut costs, until Congress makes them do so.  Lowering their costs means lowering their profits and a for-profit company will resist that with every ounce of energy they have.  So, I would modify Dole’s plan just a bit.  Here’s what I think congress should do. 

Congress should, for sure, do what is necessary to make health-insurance universal and get rid of the problem of preexisting conditions.  Then, congress should enact medical tort reform, in a way that allows people to be compensated for gross medical blunders, but get rid to the lottery-like judgments that we have seen in the past.  Then Congress should give the private companies two years (not the five Dole suggested) to get the health-care costs under control.  By under control, I mean that health-care costs rise no faster than the inflation rate.  Congress should make it crystal clear that if private companies cannot accomplish that in the two years allotted, Congress will take serious and immediate action, like put a public option in place. 

If Obama took Dole’s advice and demonstrated the leadership, that is the president’s responsibility, I believe his approval rate would jump back into the high 50s or 60s again.  I do believe the ball is in the President’s court.  It is time he took a whack at it.