Gov. Bobby Jindal's View on the State of the Economy/Health Care System

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal recently wrote an opinion article on Politico stating the federal government's attempt to "buy it's way" out of this Recession and his dissent over the handling of Health Care Reform:

"A private health insurance system, otherwise known as what we have today, will not be able to compete with a taxpayer-subsidized government plan, and businesses faced with growing health care costs will opt to either lay off more workers or send employees into the government plan. One independent study already suggested that up to 119 million Americans will end up leaving their private plans for the public plan. To think otherwise requires one to suspend disbelief.

...Let me be clear about something: I have no problem conceding that Speaker Nancy Pelosi, with whom I served in Congress, means well, even though I realize some Republicans get mad when I say that. But the simple fact is that House Democrats are determined to try to tax and spend our way back to prosperity. The past six months have made that clear."

With that said, Gov. Jindal does agree to a consensus that we need reform that reduces costs, improves outcomes and puts patients in control. He requests a bi-partisan approach to Health Care reform, one that:

"made health insurance portable, ended frivolous lawsuits, allowed for pooling, required insurance companies to cover the sick, paid based on outcomes and not activity, used refundable tax credits to increase affordability and incentivized rather than penalized small businesses to provide coverage. Republicans would support those reforms, and the policy would benefit the entire country"

- Unlike other GOP'ers and even some Democrats, Gov. Jindal seems to be willing to push bi-partisanship and reach common ground quickly among Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike regarding Health Care reform. He recognizes the need for legislation that would transform the Health Care system, which is a start and unlike those who have vehemently opposed the House's version of the Health Care Bill and don't care to offer alternative solutions. They'd rather keep it as it is: fractured.