MASSACHUSETTS SENATE ELECTION

There is much to say about the ironic election of Scott Brown to fill the senate seat of Ted Kennedy. This election is seen by many as a referendum on the agenda of President Obama generally, and on the health care bill specifically. While this may be true, there is one factor which must be kept in mind in interpreting the results of this election. Massachusetts already has had a law on the books which provides health care for its citizens. The health care bill pending in Washington offers nothing for Massachusetts. If it were to pass (and this is not certain), the people of Massachusetts would be taxed to provide health care for the remainder of the nation without receiving any benefit themselves. No wonder the pending national health care bill was unpopular, and this contributed to a big Republican victory.