Universal Health Care During Obama’s First Term?

David Wessel, in his article “Moment Is Ripe for President to Fix Health Care,” from April 30ths Wall Street Journal, states that it appears that Obama is aggressively developing a health care plan. Wessel believes that there are four reasons that the time is right for a successful new health care plan. Unlike 1994 when Clinton presented his Health Security Act, there has been a significant downturn in the economy with an increase in the number of uninsured Americans and an increase in the cost of health care so that it now is approximately 17.6% of the U.S.’s spending. Thus, the general public is unhappy with “the status quo.” Next, Obama’s White House team has learned from Clinton’s mistakes, that his plan cannot be complicated and complex. Third, the Democrats have a majority in congress and appear to be united in their support of health care legislation to provide coverage for the American people. Finally, “the price tag” to fund health care does not seem to be such a significant issue anymore. Compared to the cost of the bank bailout, more than 750 billion, funding health care now seems to be doable.

Do you think Obama will present a new health plan by the end of 2009? If so, do you think it will pass congress?
How will the United States pay for all these expensive plans and bailouts?