by Julia Rosen [courtesy of Working Californians blogs]

It is counterintuitive I admit, to claim that the Democratic legislators plan (AB 8) is better than Schwarznegger's proposal, which actually covers more people. The reality is that it is actually worse to force people into crappy plans that they can't afford than it is for them to go uninsured. It is an ugly calculation for sure. Unless you regulate the insurance industry more than what the Democrats are proposing, or offer a governmental run plan (ala Edwards), it is unacceptable to have an individual mandate. Weintraub doesn't seem to get this.

Democratic lawmakers have criticized his plan as too friendly to the insurance industry, and they don't like the idea of requiring individuals to take responsibility for obtaining coverage, even with hefty subsidies for the poor and the working poor. They have proposed an alternative that would put more of the financial responsibility on employers.

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