I only caught a small portion last night. Not enough to generate any opinion. Most of the immediate media post-coverage was on Rep. Wilson's behavior, which intentionally or not by Wilson, did the substance of the speech no justice. This afternoon I watched the speech online and read it.
Overall I would say it was a good speech. Some of the important items that jumped out at me were the president's defense of the public option, his overall requirement that everyone have health insurance, that the public option pay for itself, and a promise to provide low cost coverage immediately.
Concerning the public option the president had this to say:
But an additional step we can take to keep insurance companies honest is by making a not-for-profit public option available in the insurance exchange. Let me be clear - it would only be an option for those who don't have insurance. No one would be forced to choose it, and it would not impact those of you who already have insurance. In fact, based on Congressional Budget Office estimates, we believe that less than 5% of Americans would sign up.The president also went on to caution his more liberal and progressive friends that the public option was merely a means to an end, that fighting insurance company abuses was the real goal. I agree with that, I just happen to believe a public option is the best way to fight such abuses.
He also said that he was open to other constructive ideas as well, but warned, "I will not back down on the basic principle that if Americans can't find affordable coverage, we will provide you with a choice. And I will make sure that no government bureaucrat or insurance company bureaucrat gets between you and the care that you need." Policy-wise that is entirely what this is about, getting affordable insurance to those that need it because in the end it helps all of us.
This brings us to the next big policy step, providing insurance to everyone. The president was adamanet on this. Another way of putting it is if someone doesn't have health insurance, they will get it under the new plan. Creating a new health exchange to provide affordable coverage is the best way to make this happen. The new exchange would work nearly the same way all insurance programs work: pay a price for certain coverage. The exchange would only encompass those who want it and as the president says, be self-sufficient. People without insurance would be able to opt into this new exchange and receive insurance much the same way Members of Congress do.
Providing coverage as soon as possible, even through a trigger system (or a stopgap) is also a new policy direction mentioned by the president as well. I think it's a reasonable request. It's definitely something that wasn't in the president's original campaign proposals. It's a borrowed idea, but one I think is much needed.
In all, I felt it was good and effective. Getting the debate to a level of basic sanity is a must. If he has to give another next week, do it. It's that important.
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