Thursday 19 November 2009

US Senate announces health care bill, but will tyranny of the minority prevail?


Harry Reid, Senate majority leader, has announced his version of health care reform:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/19/health/policy/19health.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

Its braver and more radical than many expected from the Senate even a few months ago. However, three Senators are currently holding Reid to ransom with threats not to support the legislation:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/18/health/policy/18senate.html?fta=y

Due to the Senate's super-majority rules, Reid needs the votes of all three. The three are: Blanche Lincoln (Arkansas), Ben Nelson (Nebraska) and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana.

The three poor, rural states these Senators represent hold a combined 3% of the total US population. Tyranny of the minority indeed! Imagine if the 1945 Labour government had to hold up the NHS legislation in order to meet the concerns of three MPs from Norwich, Shropshire and Anglesey...

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