The pause that refreshes

It sounds like Boss Carter, formally The Hon. Davy Carter, speaker and ramrod of the Arkansas House, is calling a time-out on the Private Option. He should-after quarterbacking four downs without making any headway. His goal? Passing the (not so) Private Option during this fiscal session of the Ledge, but the next drive to the goalposts may have to wait till the upcoming primaries are over and the public isn’t paying as much attention. Or a few more legislators can negotiate special treatment for their pet projects, which is what Jane English did over in the state Senate-and what various U.S. senators did to get Obamacare passed in the first place.

Except that Boss Carter complains that some of those who voted against his Private Option haven’t been bargaining in good faith. But he declines to name names. (He might need their votes later.) So he’s drawing the shades on these negotiations. At least old Joe McCarthy identified those he accused. No wonder the state is fed up with this game. Or should be.

It’s not just the Arkansas House but Arkansas that could use a break from these daily and inconclusive votes. Or maybe, following the federal example, we’ll have to pass the thing to find out what all is in it. Even now all the mantraps in the (not so) Affordable Care Act are still showing up. Maybe a few more in the Private Option need exposing, too.

Editorial, Pages 14 on 02/27/2014

Upcoming Events