“President Bush made two bold health policy proposals in his State of the Union message. First, he proposed to replace the existing system of tax subsidies for private health insurance with a standard health deduction (like the standard deduction for dependents). In the process, he would level the playing field between health insurance purchased by individuals and employers, while eliminating tax law provisions that reward waste and penalize economy in the purchase of health insurance. Second, the president proposes to allow the states to redirect federal funds that currently pay for free health services for the uninsured toward private insurance subsidies instead.” [editor’s note: Tomorrow in this very space, Goodman’s answer to Bush plan critics. As one of them, I may feel a rebuttal coming on. - SAT] (01/29/07)