Why the Health Care Rush?
If sharks stop swimming, they sink and drown. President Obama seems to view his health-care program the same way. “If we don’t get it done this year,” he said in a recent pep talk to supporters, “we’re not going to get it done.” Well, why? If laying “a new foundation” for 18% of the economy really is as important as the President claims it is, then surely it could withstand more than fleeting inspection. Instead, Democrats are trying to rush the largest entitlement expansion since LBJ into law with a truncated debate and as little public scrutiny as possible. At this point all they’ve released are the vaguest “policy options,” not concrete specifics. Yet the Senate plans to begin marking up legislation next week, maybe hold a hearing or two, then have something to the floor by the end of the month, votes by the August recess and a bill to the Oval Office by Thanksgiving. On the seventh day, they will rest. Mr. Obama had 24 Senate Democrats over for a White House chat to drive the calen
