When President Barack Obama takes to the podium today in the White House Rose Garden, here’s what I want to hear:<\/p>\n
1. Here’s a plan that moves us substantially toward universal health care for all Americans, providing coverage that’s portable, affordable, and includes mechanisms for cost-containment. Yes, that means a public option. <\/p>\n
2. Here’s how much it will cost. Don’t fall into the trap of promising Americans that we can have big ticket items (two wars, say, or No Child Left Behind-style education reform) without paying for them.<\/p>\n
3. Make sure the solution is pay-as-we go. No new debt. Yes, raising taxes during a recession is bitter medicine. But Americans are sick of debt. And giving millions of workers access to health care will push our entire economy into the 21st century.<\/p>\n
A quick postscript:<\/p>\n
Later this week, I’ll be profiling four entrepreneurs who’ve started new businesses in the last year in the North Country.<\/p>\n
They’re filling store fronts, providing new jobs, paying taxes.<\/p>\n
But not one of them had health care, or could offer health care to their employees. Not one.<\/p>\n
My point? Health care reform isn’t just for the tens of millions of Americans who are uninsured or under-insured.<\/p>\n
It’s also for companies that want to get out of the social-safety-net business, so they can focus on their products.<\/p>\n
It will also help American firms compete more effectively with overseas companies that don’t have to worry about being social-service agencies. <\/p>\n
It’s also for workers who want more flexibility to change jobs and take entrepreneurial risks in their own lives.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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