I'd love to learn more about how the health insurance cartel managed to be excluded from anti-trust laws. Nevertheless, Senators Schumer and Leahy are making a serious attempt to strip the cartel of their exemption status, which means -- gasp! -- they'll have to compete in a broader market (which we hope will include a public insurance plan).
BULLETIN -- POLITICO’s Carrie Budoff Brown: This morning, Senator Schumer is going to say, in light of the insurance industry report warning premiums will rise under reform, Dems should push to revoke the health insurance industry's antitrust exemption as a floor amendment. This will be at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, where Majority Leader Reid is also testifying." 10 a.m., Dirksen 226, "Prohibiting Price Fixing and Other Anticompetitive Conduct in the Health Insurance Industry."
Schumer says there's a solid chance his amendment will pass. Fingers crossed!