I am no expert on the ins and outs of the health care debate, but from what I’ve gathered, the Senate health care bill contains a mandate that will require individuals to purchase health care insurance or face a fine at tax time. However, there is also a state-based “opt-out” provision that would allow individual states to exempt themselves from the mandate.

I decided to ask reform opponents if they would encourage their state’s governors and legislators to exercise the opt-out clause if the bill passes “as-is”.

I think Wicker and Sessions make a fair point – it is probably impossible to fully “opt-out” of the reforms. To the extent there will be, at a minimum, new taxes on medical devices and elective plastic surgery and to the extent that Medicare reimbursement rates will in some case be reduced (without regard to a state’s opt-out status), states will face a choice: increase the tax burden and get nothing, or, increase the tax burden, impose a mandate and increase the number of insured in their state.

As I said, I’m no expert. I’d love to be corrected in the comments.

Senator Mitch McConnell:

Senator Joe Lieberman:

Senator Jeff Sessions:

Senator Roger Wicker:

Today I ran into Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, the Senators from Michigan, as well as Eric Massa, a representative from upstate New York. Each of them represent constituencies hit savagely hard by the current economic conditions. If they are concerned about the current economic team, they aren’t letting on. At the same time, none of them came out four-square behind the crew from Wall Street either.

Here’s Debbie Stabenow:

Carl Levin:

and Eric Massa:

That’s what Joe Lieberman says when asked if he’ll go on Rachel Maddow’s show to have an honest debate on health care. Evidently that’s a disqualifying attribute so far as Senator for Connecticut is concerned.

No word on why he feels comfortable appearing as a frequent guest on Sean Hannity’s programs.

When asked, Dodd offered some support for Ben Bernanke a week before his confirmation hearings, saying he’s done a better job recently. On the other hand, when it came to Geithner and Summers, Dodd would only say that their job security is up to the President… Which is almost exactly what John Ensign said…

On the other hand (I guess I’m up to three now, but who’s counting?), James Inhofe was pretty clear. He thinks it’s time for Geithner to go.

“Unemployment, when you look at the broader index, is approaching 20%. Foreclosures are at a record pace, still accelerating; we don’t see an end to that crisis… Credit markets are still stuck. Meanwhile, we’ve turned around Wall Street quite nicely; it’s record bonus season down there. At waht point do we begin to lose confidence in Bernanke, Geithner and Summers? When do we decide that their priorities are skewed and we may need a new team in there? Somebody that’s going to get change on Main Street and not just Wall Street?”

Here’s Dodd:

Ensign:

Here’s Inhofe: