Saturday, June 30, 2012

THE ENFORCER?

The New York Times says that, yes, Republicans might be able to repeal some of the Obama health care law if they control the White House and both houses of Congress after the November elections -- but a number of provisions will be hard to overturn:
In essence, the Republicans could not muster sufficient votes by themselves to undo most of the regulations and benefits of the law, but could for the parts that pay for them.

"You can't get everywhere with reconciliation," said Senator Rob Portman, Republican of Ohio, referring to the Congressional process that Democrats used, which allows certain budget measures to pass with 51 votes instead of the 60 that would be required to block a filibuster vote on a full repeal. "You will need to use other procedures," he said.
The Times presents a possible alternate procedure:
While some Republicans fantasize about a bipartisan solution to undoing the elements of the law, Representative Tom Price of Georgia, a physician who is the Republican leadership’s point man on health care, said Friday that a health and human services secretary under a Romney administration would dismantle other parts of the law through fiat.
You know who's coming to mind as a possible Romney pick for that job?

Rand Paul.

Now, of course, it could be the obstetrician father rather than the ophthalmologist son. But I think Romney has cut a deal with Ron Paul to do right by Rand, in return for Ron's people not making trouble at this year's Republican convention. Giving Rand a cabinet position carrying out Romney's #1 campaign promise would certainly qualify as "doing right" by Rand.

Just a hunch....