The House is on the verge of ramming through its destructive and pork-laden $1.9 trillion relief bill, with Senate Democratic leaders eagerly awaiting its arrival next week. Galen Senior Fellows Brian Blase and Doug Badger have been prolific in helping policymakers see how regressive, wasteful, and destructive the ill-conceived health spending provisions in the bill are, as you have seen from … [Read more...] about On the Verge
More Subsidies for the Rich
Washington’s first answer to most any problem is to throw more money at it—more of your money. That’s just what is happening now with the massive $1.9 trillion so-called Covid relief bill that is racing through Congress. And the more we look at the details, the more egregious it is. The bill is designed to provide economic assistance to people suffering from the effects of … [Read more...] about More Subsidies for the Rich
Protecting Consumer-Friendly Options
The $1.9 trillion, deficit-spending reconciliation bill is speeding through Congress, auspiciously to provide funding for Covid relief. Republicans have offered bipartisan solutions to craft a targeted bill with more limited taxpayer assistance to address pressing problems. But it appears Speaker Pelosi plans to use her ultra-narrow majority to ram through the bill which … [Read more...] about Protecting Consumer-Friendly Options
A Great American Story
Here’s a great story about two dads and a civic commitment that is helping countless people. It starts last year near Ft. Worth, Texas, where John Bielamowicz and David Baillargeon wanted to help acquire personal protective equipment (PPE) for local hospitals but found woefully few U.S. based suppliers. Limited supplies were forcing healthcare workers and first responders to reuse N95 … [Read more...] about A Great American Story
“If you like your plan…”
President Biden has issued an avalanche of executive orders since taking office last week with many designed to undo Trump administration actions. This is no way to govern, as The New York Times pointed out in an editorial, "Ease up on the Executive Actions, Joe.” But here we are, and yesterday was Biden’s health reform action day with orders to … [Read more...] about “If you like your plan…”
Beginning Again
And now we begin a new chapter in our decades-long endeavor to fight for health freedom. We face many hurdles, but after 25 years of engaging in the health policy debate, we are ready to face these challenges and seek new opportunities to advance patient-centered reform. The Biden administration will push an agenda that further expands the role of government in … [Read more...] about Beginning Again
The Dreaded Masks
President-elect Joe Biden proposed a massive $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief package in a speech last night, urging Congress to quickly approve $1,400 per-person direct payments and funding for testing and vaccine distribution. With ultra-narrow Democratic margins in both the House and Senate, whether such a huge expenditure is needed hopefully will at least be debated at a time when … [Read more...] about The Dreaded Masks
A dreadful beginning
2020 was awful, and we rang in 2021 with hopes we would put the pandemic, riots, and economic shock behind us. Who thought 2021 could be worse! Like many of you, I am in despair over this week’s calamities. We will soon turn to sorting through the policy consequences to try to chart a positive path forward, but in the meantime, I want to share with you a few … [Read more...] about A dreadful beginning