EDITORIAL: Editorial: Bipartisan health bill is best option

Oct. 22--Congress appears to have enough votes to pass a bipartisan health care agreement, allowing more Americans to keep their insurance while giving states more flexibility with federal rules.

Just one problem: Republican leaders -- including House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Janesville -- don't seem willing to allow a vote on the sensible proposal.

They should.

Ryan is operating under an informal and partisan rule in which the Republican majority in the House refuse to bring any bill to the floor for action unless most GOP House members support it.

Ryan has so far been dismissive of a proposal authored by Sens. Lamar Alexander, a Tennessee Republican, and Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat -- even if their bill clears the Senate.

The proposal, which U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, and dozens of other senators from both political parties have co-sponsored, would continue subsidies to low-income Americans who otherwise couldn't afford the health insurance they've been receiving under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

Republican President Donald Trump has sent conflicting signals on the proposal. But presumably he will sign just about anything that reaches his desk, allowing him to claim a rare victory in Washington.

That means Congress should start moving this responsible, short-term health care fix to the finish line.

Alexander and Murray's proposal would keep America's health care system functioning with some needed consistency. They propose a two-year extension of subsidies under the ACA that pay for discounted premiums for low-income people.

Trump recently ended the subsidies, creating more risk and cost for insurance companies as well as millions of Americans who receive coverage through the ACA's individual market. Those citizens now face higher cost and fewer -- if any -- options for coverage if Congress fails to act.

Continuing the subsidies would deter hikes in premiums and preserve some of the insurance plans offered to individuals under the ACA. Alexander and Murray's bill also would allow more people to buy less comprehensive insurance while speeding the process for governors to seek waivers from ACA rules.

U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, D-La Crosse, who met with the State Journal editorial board last week, guaranteed that Alexander and Murray's bill would pass the House if Republican leaders allowed a vote.

We don't doubt that. The bill already has enough votes to survive a filibuster and clear the Senate if all Democrats join a dozen Republicans who say they'll vote "yes."

Speaker Ryan should drop his fruitless effort to repeal Obamacare. Instead, he should lead the House to a pragmatic solution both political parties can support.

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