Full stop. Those two measures would fix the problem. I see no need for mandates (a law that you MUST buy health insurance, or that employers must do so). That is a solution in search of a problem, or it's a gift to the health insurance industry -- giving them new customers. (But it strikes me as a burden to the budgets of poor people, who will now be told they MUST buy insurance. I say, B.S. - that (poor people) is what Medicaid is there for!)

Mandates and co-ops are GIFTS to the insurance industry -- and an unsustainable waste of tax dollars.

I oppose such corporate welfare, and since the final bill is likely to be a "mandates and co-ops" bill, I figure that I will be against the final bill that emerges this year.

= = =

* Yes, I once ran for U.S. President as the 18-year-old in the race (in 1984), but I did not have a health care plank in my (then-) small platform of practical idealism. My small platform mainly said let's have - a balanced budget - flat taxes above one variable base exemption - a nuclear freeze - hydrogen cars - and, solar power satellites.

"The budget must be balanced, and taxes must be fair!" :)