(Wall Street) Analyst Doubts Health Overhaul Can Pass

The New York Times (Prescriptions Blog) ^ | November 17, 2009 | Reed Abelson

[St. Louis Conservative]

Arguing that the political winds are shifting away from the support necessary for an overhaul, one Wall Street analyst is now predicting Congress will not pass any significant health care legislation anytime soon.

In a report to investors on Tuesday, Richard Evans, an analyst with Sector & Sovereign in New York, writes, “We no longer expect Congress to pass impactful health reform legislation this year, or even in this political cycle.”

Mr. Evans cites several factors that he believes makes passage less and less likely, including the increasing public opposition to the overhaul, as well as the emergence of politically divisive issues like abortion and immigration in the debate over the legislation’s specifics.

He also notes that the House and the Senate take very different views on how the overhaul should be paid for, with the House favoring a tax on the wealthy, and the Senate preferring a tax on the most generous insurance policies, the so-called Cadillac plans. The result is what Mr. Evans sees as irreconcilable differences in opinion about where to get the money for reform, with the House and Senate “settled on a plan that the other cannot pass.”

[Pete]

I have been posting links in other threads to this today. Trying to get the word out. It is something my father has written. He was a health care actuary for many years and an expert on health care financing. (He was testifying before Congress about this stuff back in the early 70's and consulted into the 90's).

Here he proposes some real solutions you probably won't see anywhere else but involve every American to make them work. He also takes apart the current Congressional efforts.

Can CIC affect US Health Care Reform?

[Uncle Miltie]

From your mouth to G-d’s ear.

This is the most bullish possible outcome for America and stocks.

Only when 0bummer is politically defeated can employers hire.

[ConjunctionJunction]

I sure hope this analyst is right.

[DrC]

Great. Wall Street finally caught up to Bill Kristol, who’s been saying the same thing from the get-go. When Obamacare finally bites the dust, loud cheers will be heard across the land. At that juncture, I fully expect the shameless Obama to seek to take credit for killing this turkey on grounds that it would have enriched the evil health insurance companies and pharmaceutical manufacturers!

[Major Matt Mason]

I don't think this guy fully understands Obama's resolve. BO doesn't care that the majority of Americans don't want this healthcare overhaul because BO doesn't think that this portion of the country has opinions that should be taken into consideration. He is only president of one narrow segment of the U.S. and thinks the remainder of the country can take a flying leap. He is intent on destroying what came before his presidency and replacing it with his exalted vision. Therefore, this will pass into law.

[Smittie]

How I wish this to be so, but they don’t care that no one outside of Washington wants this, they have an agenda to push through and they aren’t going to take no for an answer. He won afterall. (s/)

[goldstategop]

I agree. Even if the Democrats settle differences about funding, they are divided over abortion, illegal immigration and who knows what is over the horizon. There is no agreement on the details and there is nothing like a bi-partisan consensus about health care reform.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find only things evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelogus

[broken_arrow1]

Yeah, right...and they said the Public Option was dead how many times?

[Son House]

Same Congress that passed a non-sense Stimulus bill will pass health care insurance reform

[fluffdaddy]

“Same Congress that passed a non-sense Stimulus bill will pass health care insurance reform.”

But it's not the same Congress, not even close. It's mostly the same people, but they aren't in anything like the same mood. Dems felt bulletproof in the early days of the year 1 A.O.(Anno Obama). They were high from the 08 election and they believed the electorate would back whatever they wanted to do. A year later they've learned different. They are tentative, scared and inclined to bicker as a way to avoid any serious decisions. In this mood, they'll never get off the dime and pass anything significant.

[RobaWho]

"Only when 0bummer is politically defeated can employers hire."

Bingo!

[Buckeye McFrog]

yeah, but the ChiComs put the final nail in the coffin today when they told Barry “It cost too much. We no like!!”

[Pete]

BTTT