GOP Looks for Dem. Defectors as Healthcare Bill Punishes 'Generous' States
The New York Times documented that several "progressive" states that have expanded healthcare coverage on their own are not setting up to oppose the Senate version of the healthcare package. The December 27 story noted that the Senate package, passed on Christmas Eve, would force states struggling to balance their budgets to subsidize the expansion of health care coverage in other states that had not expanded health care coverage by state mandates.

The U.S. Senate health care bill would create insurance exchanges and dramatically expand federal Medicare coverage to allow states to increase assistance for those subject to the federal mandate to obtain healthcare insurance, and pay for most of it with a huge tax increase. But those already on a state program do not qualify for federal subsidies, disparately impacting the “progressiveâ€