Tax Cut Takes Funds From Health Care Reform, Washington Post Editorial Says

Rising health care costs are "sqeez[ing] people out of the health care system" and leaving less money available for "other purposes," according to a Washington Post editorial. The response on how to handle the increased costs from the political leadership, however, is "disappointing," the Post writes. Noting that "Democrats and some Republicans" are in favor of adding a prescription benefit to Medicare and regulating the managed care industry, the Post writes that many politicians are "warning" that the funding for reforms may have to come from the Medicare trust fund because of the recently passed tax cut. For example, the Post writes, Finance Committee chair Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) "contributed" to the funding shortage by voting for the tax cut, and may "contribute" to funding problems again by pushing for a Medicare drug benefit this year. The editorial concludes: "The resurgent cost of health care is arguably one of the most serious problems the country faces. But in our view neither political party is facing it. In the long run, some of the steps they may take this year could make it worse. The tax cut, by stripping the government of needed resources, has already done so" (Washington Post, 6/9).