Newly elected Republican Rep. Andy Harris is upset because the health care for his new job in Congress doesn't kick in until February, which is essentially, a couple of weeks after he starts work. Harris, who has worked as an anesthesiologist, says this is the first job he's had where it doesn't start on day one, and he's upset that he can't buy insurance from the government in the meantime to close the gap in his care, according to the Associated Press:
Harris' staff says he wasn't being hypocritical -- and that indeed, the lawmaker was drawing attention to the inefficiency of a government-run health care program.
There are some voters for whom that might work, but I suspect a healthy chunk of them would be more surprised that Harris had never had to wait before. Many employers do institute a waiting period that can last three months or more, and I'd bet that most workers in my age group have had significant gaps in coverage at some point in their lives. No wonder folks like Harris rail against the public option. They have no idea how the world really works.
-- Monica Potts
