More Checks Than Balances in the Struggle for Health Care Reform | Health Care Reform 2009

Posted by NEJM • July 15th, 2009 The founding fathers would be pleased to know that the checks and balances of U.S. democracy are still working — as demonstrated by current activity surrounding the Democrats’ health care reform effort. But in recent weeks, there have been more checks than balances, as disagreements have sharpened over how broadly to expand governmental powers and how to pay for reform and slow the growth of health care expenditures. With virtually all Republicans skeptical about, if not outright opposed to, the proposed reforms, and with Democrats increasingly torn by intraparty conflicts, the odds against enacting President Barack Obama’s vision of fundamental change have increased. Full Article: More Checks Than Balances in the Struggle for Health Care Reform | Health Care Reform 2009