Axelrod’s offhand comment could light healthcare fuse: state compacts?

David Axelrod, senior adviser to the president, talked with Bill O'Reilly after President Barack Obama addressed Congress Wednesday. Axelrod focused on Dick Morris, but what he said about state health insurance regulations lights the fuse of opportunity.Leftist media pundits are celebrating President Barack Obama’s senior adviser David Axelrod bashing rightie pundit Dick Morris after Obama’s address Wednesday to Congress. But all missed a loaded remark Axelrod made about the states. The  top strategist for the left was talking to Bill O’Reilly and the talk show host asked about being able to purchase insurance across state lines. In his speech Obama cited an obstacle to reform—“In 34 states 75 percent of the insurance market is controlled by 4 or 5 companies.”

When O’Reilly mentioned this, Axelrod suggested—I’m paraphrasing—deregulation was a matter for the states.

Apparently I am the only analyst who saw the fuse Axelrod unintentionally lit.

In the full exchange with O’Reilly,  Axelrod focused on Dick Morris’ book, denying potential for rationing medical care once new consumers come into the market when the Democrats pass legislation. Rationing, by the way, is likely. We face a shortage of primary care physicians within a few years because the real money is in specialties.

But the adviser’s comment lights a path to state involvement in deregulation. Why can’t states form compacts to combine purchasing power with a goal of broadening the market? If you think companies won’t compete for market share, talk to your nearest CEO.

Why can’t Southeastern governors come together to pool resources, and open the health insurance market so our choices are expanded?

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House Republicans unveil Washington Watch

House Republicans’ chief deputy whip Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) unveiled the new website Washington House Republicans' chief deputy whip Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) at far right with Cal Poly president Warren Baker, Dean Noori and Teena Fredeen. [Photo from US gov. House website]Watch during the weekly Republican address. Washington Watch will track misuse of taxpayer dollars and ‘stimulus’ waste. When spending tax money, “[W]e should be guaranteed accountability,” said McCarthy. The congressman called the Democratic budget “fiscally irresponsible.”

Democrats routinely point out the Bush administration and Republicans’ prior spending. But McCarthy said. “It’s irresponsible to borrow more than all previous American presidents combined.”

Republican whip Eric Cantor was featured on CBS Sunday Morning; the engaging interview included his wife.

Washington Watch shined a light on its first ‘misuse’ of tax dollars by citing a skateboard park in Rhode Island. It’s a classic case of federal cluelessness when it comes to the use of funding. The city of Pawtucket has a $5.2 million school budget deficit and about a $4.8 municipal deficit and has eliminated 40 city jobs this year. The city is spending $550,000 in stimulus money to construct the skateboard park at a local school. A local official said stimulus projects had to be “shovel-ready” to receive funding and “this is the one we have that is shovel-ready.”

On offense about charges of being the party of ‘no,’ the Republican whip house website also has a section ‘Economic Solutions.’ Proposals include tax credits for home buyers, relief of federal taxes on unemployment benefits and tax breaks for small businesses.

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The GOP had Karl Rove; Obama has David Axelrod

David Axelrod is the political strategist behind the success of many Democratic candidates, Sen. Barack Obama foremost among them. Axelrod is a partner in AKP&D Message and Media Firm. In politics, one hand always scratches the other. In March, 2008, BusinessWeek did an article, ‘The Secret Side of David Axelrod.’ Considering the hearts and kisses media has given the Democratic candidate for president, it comes as no surprise Axelrod was once political editor at The Chicago Tribune.

BusinessWeek notes there’s not a lot of hard data on the AKP&D website. But it’s fairly easy to put simple sums together, and here are a few items worthy of consideration.

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