Hansen: Vermont’s new health insurance mandate a step backward
Don’t we have the right to make our own life decisions? Montpelier says no. Our political class finds the clarion call of collective responsibility more seductive than personal liberty.
Obamacare’s constitutionality comes into question again
In February, Texas and several other states filed a lawsuit alleging that, by reducing the Obamacare tax to zero, Congress eliminated the only basis on which the Supreme Court had upheld the constitutionality of Obamacare. A sine qua non of a tax is that it generates revenue, Texas argued, and Obamacare will no longer do so.
3 problems with the left’s new favorite study on Obamacare rates
The premium effects of individual mandate repeal and new rules governing short-term insurance are smaller and more varied than the CAP study suggests. Some people will see premiums somewhat higher than they otherwise would be, but others will pay less for insurance.
Vermont just average in revealing costs of health care services and procedures
While Vermont made an early, pioneering bid to make health-care costs more transparent, via its VHCURES and Health Care Price Transparency database, how has it fared in the wake of Colorado’s big leap forward in transparency this year?
Smith: State individual health care mandate is about exploiting kids
Who are the healthy? Primarily our young people. And why must they be forced, on pain of penalties, to buy what for them is seriously overpriced health insurance? Because our state government doesn’t want to have to raise tax dollars to subsidize the far higher premiums of older and sicker people.
Gov. Scott signs individual health insurance mandate that will penalize Vermont families
Gov. Phil Scott promised not to raise new taxes or fees, especially for young Vermonters, but a new law requiring Vermonters to carry health insurance is set to impose new penalties on many residents of the state.
Local critics warn drug importation from Canada dangerous, destined for rejection by feds
This month Vermont became the first state to allow the importation of less expensive drugs from Canada, but local critics say the move has no chance of federal approval, and could lead to a dangerous flood of counterfeit medicines.
Hansen: Vermont Legislature approves whack-a-mole game with Canada drug reimportation
By approving the wholesale reimportation of U.S. prescription drugs from Canada, the Vermont Legislature passed an illegal measure that will not lower drug prices. Instead, it will subject Vermonters to public health risks and new taxes to defray an inevitable federal lawsuit.
Sanders votes against VA health care bill as America honors fallen veterans
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., former chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee, has voted against a $52 billion reform bill for veterans’ health care that gives desperate patients increased access to private doctors and private hospitals.
Fate of state health insurance mandate uncertain, though it’s likely to raise taxes
A bill that would require all Vermonters to have health insurance has made its way to the governor’s desk, but it’s uncertain that Republican Gov. Phil Scott will sign it, since it likely would use a revived Individual Health Effort Tax as a penalty.
McClaughry: Veto individual health care mandate bill
Since Gov. Scott relishes vetoing new taxes, he needs to nip this new tax program in the bud and let the legislators who bought into this mandate scheme think about how they’ll explain their votes to override his veto when they’re out campaigning this fall.