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: