Obama says to get rid of insurers' antitrust status

[karynnj]

(sorry for the right wing source)

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama urged Congress today to strip health insurers of their decades-old exemption from federal antitrust laws — hardening his stand against the industry as he tries to revive his stalled health care overhaul.

The White House announced Obama’s support for a House bill that would repeal the industry’s antitrust exemption, saying that would foster a more competitive marketplace that benefits consumers. The announcement follows Obama’s call for new federal rate-setting powers that would give the Health and Human Services department the power to deny excessive increases in health insurance premiums.

"Removing this exemption will allow appropriate enforcement and examination of potential policies that might prove uncompetitve, or might stifle competition," spokesman Robert Gibbs said.

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/view/20100223obama_time_to_repeal_health_insurers_antitrust_exemption/

[Captain Hilts]

1. Pleeeese say it's so! PLEASE!!!!!!

[Clio the Leo]

5. It's so! NT

[saracat]

2. I applauded this when he first said this months ago. Nothing came of it then. We'll see

Now that he has drop kicked the PO in reconciliation.

[karynnj]

4. Nothing came of it? - There's a House bill to do just that

It would seem the next step is a Senate bill.

If there is sufficient support for a public option, it could be brought up at the summit and added or brought up as an amendment. Gibbs says the reason is that there is not enough support in Congress.

[saracat]

6. Yawn. Real leadership could have solved that.the trouble is

we lack the leadership to pass it.

[saracat]

7. There is always a House bill, isn't there? The Senate is the sticky wicket

Obama doesn't get the credit for the House Bill.And he has been very absent from the bully pulpit on this issues since his announcement.

[karynnj]

9. He is not absent now - and the rate increases give Democrats the cover to do this

I would imagine you would be praising a President Edwards (Yuck) or a President Clinton had they done the same thing.

You felt the need to answer this twice??

[saracat]

15. I actually hope you are correct. As I stated, I do support this. What have either JRE or Clinton

have to do with anything? Or is that just snark? You make a good point about cover.We will see what happens.

[ProSense]

11. "Obama doesn't get the credit for the House Bill" unless it fails, right? n/t

[saracat]

14. Nonsense to you.

[Captain Hilts]

8. Yeah. I hope no one pulls that football away...again. nt

[Cha]

3. Here's hoping!

:patriot::fistbump::patriot:

[tabbycat31]

10. there's an independent house bill calling for it

[JoePhilly]

12. Maybe this is part of a ONE-TWO punch ...

Propose the main bill as a body blow ... and then come back immediately with critical jabs to the head like this one.

That would make me very very happy.

[RC]

13. Your Subject line is too long.

It should read: "Obama says to get rid of insurers"