Leaving aside Pence's moronity for the moment, this "Allow us to buy insurance across state lines" business is gaining traction and has to be nipped in the bud pronto. Insurance companies can already sell across state lines; what they can't do is ignore the laws of the states in which they sell. What the GOP wants is a healthcare version of what Delaware is to credit cards: one state totally deregulates insurance, all the companies rush to move there, and it's a race to the bottom in terms of coverage with higher premium prices to match. To add insult to injury, you'd have to sue your insurer in that state, not yours. It's a system that would be even more barbaric than our current one, if you can believe it.

This is another example of a harmless-sounding "reform" suggested by the right that can easily take root with uninformed voters. I wish I believed Dems were up to the job of countering it.

yah know,you begin to wonder how well the stoopid works for the repugnant and the corporate agenda...it just may be that it's shit-for-brains dudes like Pence who are the last hope for the status quo.

america: "runnin' on stoopid"

"Why on earth would ABC reward Pence with another appearance?"

They asked Elizabeth Warren first, but she doesn't have the ability to stuff her whole hand into her mouth.

Fact is, the only difference between George and his wife is that her shows have better scripts.

"... what possible value is there in having him on to discuss it?"
All the better to obfuscate with, my dears.

Also, if the subject of the interview is a blithering moron, the host doesn't have to do any work researching facts, because there won't be any...

Pence is an old talk-radio guy, and it's possible that the media regards him as one of their own.

@shortstop: Thanks for this explanation of the Repub posiiton on "across state lines." I've interpreted this point as having national coverage mandates instead of state-by-state mandates. The entire question does remind me that the role of states in regulating insurance is part of this entire issue.

In fact, the federal health insurance plans are acturally under contract to OPM, not to individuals, and OPM will hear disputes about failure to provide coverage as a final arbitrar. In 37 years of coverage under FEHB, I have had ONE dispute about a claim with an insurer, which was promptly resolved in my favor after I complained. On the other had, federal employees are allowed to buy dental insurance through a group plan that is administered through OPM, but which is not part of the FEHB and not backed up by OPM enforcement. I have to fight with the insurer over virtually every claim on the dental policy.

So if Pence will support the rest of the country having insurance like Congress does, Obama certainly should make him the new Republican poster boy on this issue, maybe give him a shout out in his speech on Wednesday.

I can't think of a single congressperson, politician, or media figure who possesses Mike Pence's ability to calmly and coherently articulate that he is an arrogant, repulsive idiot. This makes him a very hot item for Sunday Talk.

Why on earth would ABC reward Pence with another appearance?

The proper way to put this question is: Why on earth would The Walt Disney Corporation reward Pence with another appearance?

One answer pops immediately to mind - the "entertainment value" of putting a moron up in front of the public. But the more likely answer is that - like the rest of the corporations - The Mauschwitz Company doesn't want to see anything that in any way goes against corporate control of everything get anywhere, so let's throw on some more confusion for the public with another blithering fool blathering away.

Thank you for absolutely nailing it, Shortstop. That is the entire reason for the GOP idea of "nationalizing" insurance.

After reading about some of Pence's remarks in re health care, I called his office yesterday and left a message saying how pleased I am that his arguments against government involvement in health care decisions means that he is actually pro choice and that I look forward to his working against restrictive abortion laws.

I wonder if we're missing an opportunity here.

Pence says: "we should allow Americans to ... purchase health insurance the way members of Congress can, the way all federal employees can and that is to buy health insurance across state lines to get out there and allow new insurance products to be created in a new competitive marketplace ... even the private insurance elements in the Exchanges, you know, are essentially government controlled and government dictated."

Shortstop above says: "...this "Allow us to buy insurance across state lines" business is gaining traction and has to be nipped in the bud pronto. Insurance companies can already sell across state lines; what they can't do is ignore the laws of the states in which they sell. What the GOP wants is a healthcare version of what Delaware is to credit cards: one state totally deregulates insurance, all the companies rush to move there, and it's a race to the bottom..."

Think Progress says: "Members of Congress don’t cross state lines to shop for health insurance. They purchase their coverage from a national exchange-like program in which the competition of private insurers is closely regulated... Private insurers participating in FEHBP cannot deny coverage to applicants with pre-existing conditions, charge exorbitant out of pocket fees, rescind coverage or discriminate based on gender or age."

Why do the states get to regulate insurance, anyway? Isn't this really "interstate commerce" that should be regulated at the federal level? Forget Delaware! It sounds like members of Congress and federal employees are on something very close to the German system. The way I read it, Pence has just endorsed a system that is, in his words, "government controlled and government dictated." Maybe he doesn't understand what he's just proposed. Who cares. Instead of ridiculing him, why not take him up on this?

We can have the German/Swiss/French system for everyone up to age 65 and then Medicare (the Canadian system) for the elderly. I would go for that deal in a minute.

When at the beginning of Georgie Boy's show last week he announced that Liz Cheney would be on his round table, I immediately shut the program off.

An investigative blogger needs to report on how ABC books people for This Week. Nut job after nut job, week after week. I mean, come ON.

As a retired Fed employee, the only comment I would like to add about the FEHBP is that the only employees who have any real choice are the high level employees. I was a GS-4 through 8 during my career working the DC Metropollitan area; and, I almost always had Kaiser because it was the only option provided that I could afford at my low grades. GS-14s and higher and SESers and Congress always have more of a choice than the lower level Fed employees because they have more money. In retirement and living in God's country (Seattle/Tacoma area), I am doing much better than when I worked.

Any respect I had for GS is LONG gone. He seems to think that paying his dues in the Clinton War room and WH gives him credibility. It did, until he became just another lame, corporate sell out. Screw him an his show. My Tivo is recording the 3 Stooges when GS is on.

[...] we learned this week that Pence is not only confused about the basics, he doesn't even understand his own health insurance plan. -- Steve Benen

What's his incentive to learn? Doubtless, his staff fills out all the paperwork; that's what the taxpayers pay for, after all.

I watched Pence this morning and can assert the reason for bringing him on air remains: the designated GOP buffoon.

Even the stoopid could easily identify the doofus.

Early on in this year's health reform discussion the idea of insurers selling anywhere was mentioned by George Will and it was discussed a bit. Someone nixed the idea. Any idea who?