It Depends On What The Definition Of 'Flexibility' Is

ObamaCare remains so unpopular with the American people that even Barack Obama and other Democrats are signaling their willingness to change things about the law. From repeal of certain provisions to the granting of nearly 1,000 waivers, Democrats are beginning to realize the albatross around their own necks and are appearing to respond with concessions.

The trouble is, they're still Democrats, and they still remind us of that great Richard Jordan quote from "The Hunt for Red October": "I'm a politician, which means I'm a cheat and a liar, and when I'm not kissing babies I'm stealing their lollipops. But it also means I keep my options open."

To our knowledge, Obama hasn't overtly stolen any lollipops (they probably wouldn't pass the First Lady's health food test), but he has kept his options open. Addressing the National Governors Association Winter Meeting earlier this week, the president announced that he was willing to support a bill in Congress that gives states the option to "opt out" of ObamaCare -- if they offer a viable alternative that achieves the same thing.

In supporting the bill by Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Scott Brown (R?-MA), Obama claimed, "It will give you flexibility more quickly while still guaranteeing the American people reform." However, Stuart Butler, director of the Heritage Foundation Center for Policy Innovation, explains why that sounds too good to be true: "[Wyden-Brown] still locks the states into guaranteeing a generous and costly level of benefits. True, a state could propose alternative benefit requirements if they had the same actuarial value as those in the [health care bill]. But the requirements go well beyond basic coverage, and the HHS secretary is the one who defines 'at least as comprehensive' benefits."


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