WHO SHOULD GET THE BILL?

摘要

Thomas J. Donohue, the free-market president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and John J. Sweeney, the veteran chief of the AFL-CIO, don't often agree on much. But on Feb. 12, they sat side-by-side with other representatives of business, labor, hospitals, and doctor groups and pledged to find a way to get health insurance for the 40 million Americans who have none. But beyond the lofty sentiment, Donohue and Sweeney are miles apart on how to achieve the goal. And their disagreement mirrors a much broader dispute that has split the nation's capital. At the core of the fight: Should Americans continue to get health insurance from their employers and the government, as Democrats believe? Or should they be encouraged to purchase coverage individually, in the same way they buy auto insurance, as Republicans advocate?