The health care muddle

U.S. Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Patty Murray (DWash.) had reached a reasonable bipartisan deal to temporarily continue federal health care subsidies so as not to throw the current insurance system — and its customers — into chaos.

It was the kind of approach that can be taken by seasoned lawmakers who put the welfare of constituents above ideology— and who know the issue at a level deeper than something that can fit on a bumper sticker.

Their proposals would also have eased some of the coverage requirements under Obamacare and, therefore, seem a reasonable compromise that could be enacted relatively quickly.

Then enter the White House ... On Tuesday afternoon President Trump called the deal “a very good solution” that would provide the wiggle room for dealing with the ultimate fate of Obamacare. Trump moved last week to end the $7 billion subsidy that helps lower out-of-pocket costs for some 6 million lowincome Americans who qualify — 80,000 of them here in Massachusetts.

By Tuesday evening during a speech at the conservative Heritage Foundation, Trump commended the work of the two senators but added, “I continue to believe Congress must find a solution to the Obamacare mess instead of providing bailouts to insurance companies.”

Yesterday morning, he tweeted, “I am supportive of Lamar as a person & also of the process, but I can never support bailing out ins co’s who have made a fortune w/O’Care.”

So there you have it — a perfect muddle.

The Alexander-Murray proposal remains a good idea. And sooner or later members of Congress will need to realize and act in a manner worthy of one of the three co-equal branches of government. They certainly can’t depend on the White House for guidance.