The "Baucus" Bill: Is It Balanced if Everybody Hates It?

Senator and Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) announced a bill from the Finance Committee that appears to have everybody ticked off. Liberals have shown distaste for the lack of a "public option," conservatives decry the lack of a tort reform provision and extra fees on insurance companies and nobody has enthusiasm for the direct and indirect taxes, such as the tax on high-end health insurance and the $2,000 ceiling on health savings accounts. Some commentators have stated that cuts in Medicare could also result from the bill--that particular issue is not addressed in the Forbes summary.

Conservative commentator Charles Krauthammer has stated that the Baucus bill is the most honest approach to health care yet to be presented; so the bill does have that in its favor. Those who understandably feel that the present health care situation is too flawed to continue must be able to show that specific reform packages will improve on the present flawed situation; the Baucus bill shows that this task will be harder than many thought six months ago.