[the invisib1e hand]

The reason is simple: It’s the easiest way for the federal government to undertake a massive bailout of cities and states, which are at their breaking point.

Guess the magic formula is lost on me.

[durasell]

small businesses can no longer afford to offer health care to employees and it’s a major expense for large companies.

they are hoping the money saved will get poured into new equipment and expanded personnel

[curiosity]

Guess the magic formula is lost on me.

The idea is to remove the healthcare liabilities from the books of corporations and state goverments and transfer them to the Federal government. While this would indeed be horrible policy, it would have the effect of drastically lowering labor costs, which would in turn save a bunch of entities from bankruptcy and possibly stimulate employment, since it would effect a nominal wage cut.

[Axenolith]

Take for instance, San Francisco's unfunded medical insurance liability. Up until recently (and it may still be so), you needed only to work for the city for something like 6 months in order to garner free medical care for life for you and your family. The unfunded liability is something like $1.5 billion+ at this point. National Health care and "POOF" it goes away...