Rick Perry and the bi-national health insurance proposal

Yes, it's true. Rick Perry once gave a speech in which he floated the idea of a bi-national health insurance program which would cover both U.S. and Mexican residents along the border. The liberals (and the Ronulans) seem to think that makes him some kind of closet ObamaCare-loving socialist.

But before we consign him to a prolonged Tea Party timeout let's take a gander at the context of Governor Perry's remarks. Conveniently the full text of the speech in question is available on his official Texas website. Go ahead, read it. I'll wait.

Did you notice anything interesting? He's talking to a trade delegation. He's discussing cross-border commerce in the era of NAFTA. And in that context, selling American health insurance to Mexican nationals makes complete sense.

Legislation authored by border legislators Pat Haggerty and Eddie Lucio establishes an important study that will look at the feasibility of bi-national health insurance. This study recognizes that the Mexican and U.S. sides of the border compose one region, and we must address health care problems throughout that region. That's why I am also excited that Texas Secretary of State Henry Cuellar is working on an initiative that could extend the benefits of telemedicine to individuals living on the Mexican side of the border.

Disease knows no national boundaries. But government regulations are quite effective at stopping people from crossing borders in search of better and / or cheaper products. I should know, I'm prohibited by New Jersey law from buying health insurance from a New York company. (Or, just try being a California resident who buys a car in Texas and wants to bring it home. No. Can. Do.)

So let's see. Rick Perry talks about maybe changing the regulations so that Mexicans can buy U.S. health insurance. That would put dollars into some Texan pockets, right? And then those Mexicans could "see" Texan doctors via the magic of telemedicine. Also bringing dollars into Texas. Plus it just might prevent the next Bubonic Plague from jumping the Rio Grande. All of which ends up being good for Texas, something the governor of a state is supposed to be in favor of.

I'm having a hard time seeing why this idea, which incidentally didn't go anywhere, isn't congruent with free-market, and dare I say conservative, principles. Maybe the Illuminati will explain it to me at the next Bilderberger conference, right after Rick Perry subjugates us all into the North American Union.

Posted at 16:49 by Chris Wysocki   [/election]   Comments | Perm Link |
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