January 6, 2004
GUESS WHO'S NOT RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION?:
Lieberman vows to limit insurance company profits (PAULA TRACY, 1/05/04, Manchester Union Leader)
Presidential candidate Joe Lieberman yesterday said he would limit insurance company profits to 2 percent a year in order to reduce the cost of health care. He would also focus on reducing medical errors in half, he said."I think if you put a reasonable profit limit, which is what this is, a reasonable profit limit, then that will have the effect of lowering costs underneath," he said.
"It's not government take-over," the Connecticut senator said about his plan to control health costs. "It's a public-private partnership that really can provide insurance for people. And I have no doubt that I could sell this to a number of Republicans (in Congress) to support this."
That'll go over well in Hartford. Posted by Orrin Judd at January 6, 2004 8:12 AM
I think he is still safe. He will fix insurance profiteering, medical incompetence, and all without touching the trial lawyers. Wow.
Posted by: MG at January 6, 2004 9:43 AMWhy not insurance as a utility, as we have with power and telephone companies ?
Yes, I know, cable companies' customer service... But many already equivalent service with their HMOs.
Posted by: Michael Herdegen at January 6, 2004 10:21 AMI'm really impressed that any politician knows what "a reasonable profit limit" is for an industry in the private sector.
And, yeah, Joe's thumbing his nose at a big money maker for the pols of CT makes him a real populist, I suppose. Until the voters in the highest taxed state in the union try to figure out who is going to replace all those lost goodi...er, taxes.
Posted by: John J. Coupal at January 6, 2004 12:21 PMPoor Joe. No chance and he soliers on damaging what is left of his credibility.
Posted by: Robert Schwartz at January 6, 2004 2:31 PMInsurance companies are so terribly profitable as is. Ask Reliance.
Posted by: Chris at January 6, 2004 3:14 PM