A Change In The Affordable Care Act (ACA) Part II

On July 4, 2013 this writer pointed out how one of President Truman's famous sayings related to the ACA.  President Obama recently made a third change to the act by delaying the on line application for Small Business people for one year.  Small Business can still go directly to the health exchanges during the delay period and still sign up and receive health coverage.  The on line delay was to make the computer program more user friendly for the Small Business community.

The President's actions so far in the matter demonstrates how government should work when plans go astray and the program in question is worthwhile for the country and its people.  The republicans noise machine has its nose bent out of shape because of Obama's chnges and the conservative media are falling over itself with their continued attacks on the President and the ACA. 

President George W. Bush and the republican controlled congress passed the Prescription Drug Benefit in 2004 that gave the people the donut hole.  President Bush said at the time the program would cost no more than $400 billion over the next decade which ends in 2014.  The government now says the cost has already exceeded $900 billion and by the time the decade is over will cost approximately $1.07 trillion.  Thats almost triple the predicted cost.  Did any one hear of any clamor from the republicans on their own programs over run on costs.  Ditto, the conservative news media.  Republicans in congress at the time knew the $400 billion cost was a fairy tale but did nothing about it and neither did President Bush.  The program also had its rollout problems but republicans were silent on that also.

The republicans forgot President Trumans famous saying concerning their Prescription Drug Benefit.  On the other hand President Obama's actions on the ACA shows President Truman's theory was correct when congress passes legislation and corrective action has to be taken.  It is just another example of a democratic President doing the right thing on a piece of major legislation.  President Truman's wisdom on the matter is still a guide line for future legislation.


This commentary written by John Lucia.