The Heritage Foundation is described on their website as “…a research and educational institution—a think tank—whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.” So…would it surprise you to learn that the Heritage Foundation was one of the first national organizations to argue in favor of the same health insurance mandate that conservatives are now calling socialized medicine or worse “Obama care”?
On page six of The Heritage Lectures: Assuring Affordable Health Care for All Americans Stuart Butler very eloquently argues that health insurance is a responsibility of individuals and not businesses and the household mandate requires families to provide insurance. And “each household, to the extent it is able, to avoid placing demands on society by protecting themselves. He further argues that the Heritage Foundation “envisions an expansion of the subsidized risk-pools operated through the states.” Sound familiar?
The first two attempts at Congressional approval of an individual health insurance mandate were bills introduced by REPUBLICANS. S.1743, The Consumer Choice Health Security Act, introduced by Don Nickels (R-OK) and cosponsored by 24 Republicans, contained an individual mandate. And, John Chaffee (R-RI) introduced S.1770, The Health Equity and Access Reform Today Act, which required “Each citizen or lawful permanent resident to be covered under a qualified health plan.
So, did President Obama sell out by embracing a conservative ideology or did the Republican’s flip-flop? If the toxic political environment in which we currently exist has taught us anything, it’s that this can’t possibly be a good idea. As this historic reality comes to light, it will be fascinating to watch the speed at which conservatives distance themselves from themselves.
As someone once said, you just can’t make this stuff up!
