Keith Hennessey on the Politics of Health Care

Former Bush administration economics aide Keith Hennessey has this to say about how the politics of health care may shape up if a bill is passed: "the stimulus was a Presidential victory last February that has since been redefined to be a policy question mark and a political minus for its supporters. These health bills start from a much weaker policy and political starting point, and if Republicans and their outside allies continue to pound away even after a signing ceremony, there will be long-term policy and political effects that are now impossible to predict. Nervous Congressional Democrats should worry that their opponents will highlight this issue in November, and implementation foul-up stories are ready-made for ongoing press coverage. This is reinforced by policies which front-load the tax increase pain and don't deliver subsidies for several years."