House Republicans Offer Health Reform Bill

House Republicans are circulating a draft health care reform bill of their own which is notable for what it doesn't do. According to House Minority Leader John Boehner "We do not increase taxes, we do not cut Medicare and Medicaid and we do not have mandates on individuals or businesses." But there are other things their bill doesn't do as well:

• It doesn't prohibit insurers from denying coverage for preexisting conditions
• It doesn't cover 96 percent of Americans. (John Boehner: "We do not attempt to cover 46 million more Americans.")
• Provide any competition or restraints to private insurers.

You get the picture. You can read more about the Republican bill (including the draft that is circulating on the Hill) from Kaiser Health News here and from Health Care for America Now here.